Mid Ulster by-election date set

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21414814

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A by-election to replace Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness as Mid Ulster MP will be held on 7 March.

Mr McGuinness, who is the deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, announced last year that he would resign as an MP

He formally left his seat on 2 January. Sinn Fein has pledged to end the practice of its representatives double jobbing in more than one elected body.

Mr McGuinness was elected MP for Mid-Ulster in 1997, but he has never taken his seat in Westminster.

The party has an abstentionist policy, with all of its MPs refusing to attend Parliament.