Former Royal College of Nursing chief elected as MP

The former head of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has been elected to become MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone in Northern Ireland in the general election.

Pat Cullen, who stepped down as RCN general secretary and chief executive in May, will represent Sinn Fein in what used to be one of the UK’s most marginal seats.

Ms Cullen polled 24,844 votes, beating Ulster Unionist Party candidate Diana Armstrong by 4,571 votes.

Ms Cullen pledged to work with Ms Armstrong: ‘We will continue to work together, in your role as councillor and my role as MP and that’s what we will do, as that is what we set out on this journey to do,’ she said.

She paid tribute to Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill for ‘putting your trust in me that I could do this.

Speaking after her win, Ms Cullen told supporters: ‘I will work night and day for Fermanagh South Tyrone.’

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Professor Nicola Ranger is currently the acting general secretary and chief executive for the RCN.