Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has rejected claims of "running scared" from a Westminster by-election after not taking up a vacant Stormont seat in Lagan Valley.
The DUP leader said the idea that he or his party was "running away from the electorate is for the fairies".
The party has co-opted councillor Paul Rankin to replace Edwin Poots after the Agriculture Minister switched to South Belfast following the sudden death of Christopher Stalford.
