Election 2010 : Northern Ireland candidates

Peter Robinson is leader of the DUP

The Democratic Unionist Party became Northern Ireland's biggest party at the last Westminster election in 2005, winning nine out of 18 seats.

Veteran party leader Ian Paisley became Northern Ireland's first minister in 2007 after the DUP decided to share power with Sinn Fein.

Mr Paisley stepped down in 2008, replaced by his long-standing deputy Peter Robinson.

The party is standing in 16 out of Northern Ireland's 18 constituencies.

EAST ANTRIM

Sammy Wilson is finance minister at Stormont. A former economics teacher, he became East Antrim MP in the 2005 general election with 49.6% of the vote. During his time as environment minister, he came to international attention for his sceptical view of climate change.

EAST BELFAST

Peter Robinson has been East Belfast MP since 1979. He is an estate agent by profession. Having served as deputy to Ian Paisley for many years, he became DUP leader and Northern Ireland's First Minister in 2008. Mr Robinson has recently been involved in a number of controversies surrounding his and his wife's financial dealings. In the 2005 Westminster election, he secured 49.1% of the vote in the constituency.

EAST LONDONDERRY

Gregory Campbell has been East Londonderry MP since 2001. In the last general election, he won 42.9% of the vote in the constituency. He also represents the area in the Stormont Assembly. In the past, he has served as minister for two departments, regional development and culture.

FERMANAGH AND SOUTH TYRONE

The DUP and UCU have withdrawn in favour of Rodney Connor, who is standing as an independent.

FOYLE

Maurice Devenney is an Orangeman who was born in Manorcunningham in County Donegal. Mr Devenney has been a member of Derry City Council since 2005 and is currently the deputy mayor. He lives near Newbuildings and comes from a farming background.

LAGAN VALLEY

Jeffrey Donaldson has been Lagan Valley MP since 1997, when he was elected as a member of the Ulster Unionist Party. In 2004, he joined the DUP. In the 2005 general election, he secured 54.7% of the vote. Between 1983 and 1985, he served as an aide to Enoch Powell. A Stormont Assembly member since 2003, he has served as Junior Minister in the Office of the First Minister.

MID-ULSTER

Ian McCrea has been a councillor in Cookstown since 2001 and an Assembly member since 2007. He has been a member of Stormont's environment committee and the Assembly and Executive Review Committee. At the last general election, he came second in Mid-Ulster with 23.5% of the vote. The seat was held between 1983 and 1997 by Mr McCrea's father, William McCrea.

NEWRY AND ARMAGH

William Irwin has been an Assembly member since 2007 and is a member of the Agricultural Committee and the Employment and Learning Committee. He has been a councillor within Armagh City and District Council since 2005 and is involved in a number of statutory committees. Mr Irwin is an Orangeman.

NORTH ANTRIM

Ian Paisley Jr has been an assembly member for North Antrim since 1998. After graduating in Modern History and Irish Politics at Queen's University, he began work for his father Ian Paisley Sr, who was North Antrim MP for 40 years before stepping down earlier this year. He is a member of the Policing Board and chairman of Stormont's Agriculture Committee. This is his first Westminster election.

NORTH BELFAST

Nigel Dodds has been North Belfast MP since 2001. In the last general election, he secured 45.6% of the vote. A qualified barrister, Mr Dodds has been DUP deputy leader since 2008. He is also an assembly member, and has served in the past as minister for three departments; Social Development, Enterprise and Finance. He is married to DUP MEP Diane Dodds.

NORTH DOWN

The DUP is not fielding a candidate in North Down.

SOUTH ANTRIM

William McCrea was elected Mid-Ulster MP in 1983 but lost his seat in the 1997 general election. In 2000, he won the South Antrim seat in a by-election but lost it in the following year's general election. He regained South Antrim in 2005 with 38.2% of the vote. Mr McCrea is a Free Presbyterian minister and a gospel singer.

SOUTH BELFAST

Jimmy Spratt was elected as MLA for South Belfast in 2007. Mr Spratt is a former police officer. He is chairman of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee. He represents the DUP on the Northern Ireland Policing Board. Mr Spratt also sits as chairman of the National Association of Regional Employers. In addition to this role, he is a representative on the Northern Ireland Local Government Association and the Northern Ireland Joint Council for Local Government Services.

SOUTH DOWN

Jim Wells has been an assembly member for South Down since 1998. Mr Wells is a qualified town planner who first became an elected representative in 1981 when he joined Lisburn Borough Council. He is a keen environmentalist with an interest in wildlife conservation. In the 2005 general election, he came third with 18.3% of the vote.

STRANGFORD

Jim Shannon has been a councillor since 1985 and a Strangford MLA since 1998. Mr Shannon has served in the UDR and the Territorial Army, and he is an Orangeman. At the last general election, the DUP's Iris Robinson held on to the seat for the party with 56.5% of the vote. She has since left politics.

UPPER BANN

David Simpson became MP for Upper Bann in the 2005 general election, securing 37.6% of the vote. Mr Simpson has been an Assembly member since 2003, and is a member of a number of House of Commons committees. He is also chairman of the Assembly Committee for Social Development. Mr Simpson is a member of Craigavon Borough Council and was Mayor of Craigavon from 2004-2005. He was a member of NI Policing Board from 2007-2008. He is also the senior partner in a meat processing business.

WEST BELFAST

William Humphrey is chairman of the DUP in North Belfast and a member of the Party Executive. He served on the Greater Shankill Task Force and is a member of Woodvale Residents' Association. Mr Humphrey is also district commissioner for West Belfast Scouts and has been chairman of West Belfast Orange Hall for 11 years. He served on the Greater Shankill Community Council and is a member of the Woodvale Community Initiative Executive Committee.

WEST TYRONE

Tom Buchanan lives in Drumquin and has served on Omagh District Council since 1993. A builder by trade, Mr Buchanan is an Ulster-Scots enthusiast and an Orangeman. In the last general election, he came third in West Tyrone with 17.8% of the vote.