SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell is to bid again for a Westminster seat.
The South Belfast Assembly member was selected last night to fight for veteran Ulster Unionist MP the Rev Martin Smyth's seat and insisted it was a target constituency for the party.
He told party activists in his acceptance speech: "This is a key seat for the party and indeed for the representation of our electorate.
"Rest assured that my election team and I will fight for every vote, not only to maximise the SDLP vote in the constituency, but to win the seat in the name of partnership, power-sharing and the politics of accommodation for which we stand."
Mr Smyth had a comfortable 5,399 majority over Dr McDonnell in the last general election in 2001. He has yet to declare if he will defend the seat.
Former Stormont Culture Minister and UUP Assembly member Mr Michael McGimpsey is also believed to be keen on securing his party's nomination. In last year's Assembly election, the margin between both parties was much narrower, with the UUP ahead by 1,293 votes.
The UUP's three candidates secured 8,469 votes while the SDLP's two candidates polled 7,176 between them.
The DUP also saw its vote surge in the constituency with 6,529 while Sinn Féin's Mr Alex Maskey saw his party's vote grow with 3,933.
PA