A former Northern Ireland farmers' leader is to stand in the European parliament elections, it has been announced.

John Gilliland was president of the Ulster Farmers' Union until last month, coming to prominence during the foot and mouth crisis, when he worked closely with the Department of Agriculture.

During his tenure, he continued to run his renewable energy business in Londonderry.

He has now registered his new independent party, Europe First, with the Electoral Commission, running on the slogan "No politics - just action".

"I am standing as a non-aligned independent because I believe that many voters in Northern Ireland are tired of the stalemate in politics here," he said on Tuesday.

"When our domestic political debate is replicated in our dealings with Europe, Northern Ireland loses out.

"I know from my personal negotiating with Brussels that there are challenges for Northern Ireland in the new expanded EU.

"I believe that Northern Ireland people have the right to make their own decisions in Europe, a right that I have already secured in my European negotiations on regional support."

Many voters feel alienated from the policies and practices of the four main parties, he added.

"This election will see an opportunity for new political representation, with votes from those who have shunned formal politics, been repulsed by it and been overlooked by it."

Other candidates

Three MEPs represent Northern Ireland in the European parliament.

It has already been confirmed that neither DUP leader Ian Paisley nor former SDLP leader John Hume will seek re-election in June's poll.

They have been replaced as party candidates by barrister Jim Alister and Belfast lord mayor Martin Morgan .

While Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson will defend his seat, Sinn Fein has selected former Stormont health minister Bairbre de Brun as its candidate.

Marie Perry will represent the Green Party at the election, while the Socialist Environmental Alliance has selected former civil rights campaigner and journalist Eamonn McCann.