The former First Minister of Northern Ireland has been unveiled as a new columnist on her hometown weekly.

The Impartial Reporter has announced the appointment of Arlene Foster, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, who had two spells in charge at Stormont from 2016 to 2017 and from 2020 to 2021.

Enniskillen-born Baroness Foster, pictured, who now sits in the House of Lords as a non-affiliated peer, stepped down as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in October 2021.

Her appointment as a contributor to the Reporter comes as part of a revamp of the newspaper’s Opinion section.

Baroness Foster said: “I’m looking forward to contributing to the Impartial Reporter on issues that concern me, interest me or just reflecting on life in this great county.

“Living in the most westerly part of the United Kingdom, I’ll focus on what that means for unionists of all shades living here and how the Fermanagh community as a whole can raise our voices in a positive and productive way.”

Reporter editor Rodney Edwards said: “With a political journey spanning most of her life, Arlene Foster’s strong stance on issues will enrich our new Opinion section – whether she writes about Brexit, the Union, the Monarchy, or what, in her view, it means to be a Protestant.

“Arlene will be a voice for many readers who share her views. No longer a member of the DUP, I look forward to her offering her opinion and sparking debate and discussion.”

Rodney added the Reporter’s new Opinion section “should encompass a wide spectrum of views” and he hopes the new columnists will “stimulate conversations, challenge and enlighten”.

He said: “Next week I look forward to announcing our final new columnist whose views may differ from Arlene’s. And that is the joy of a newspaper like ours – we will be a voice for all.”