Jay Basra has announced he will stand as the Ulster Unionist Party candidate for the Cookstown District Electoral Area in the May 2027 local government election.

Basra, who was born in Cookstown and attended Cookstown High School before graduating from Queen's University Belfast with a degree in History and Politics, said his roots run deep in the area. He currently works as a caseworker and constituency assistant for Diana Armstrong MLA in Dungannon, having previously worked for Tom Elliott MLA.

Basra paid tribute to outgoing Councillor Trevor Wilson, who he said supported his 2024 general election candidacy in Mid Ulster. Wilson's retirement creates the vacancy in the DEA.

Basra stated that if elected, his priority would be ensuring Mid Ulster District Council delivers value for money for ratepayers and treats every community fairly. He argued that Cookstown deserves a councillor who will speak up and make sure the council is a cold house for no community.

He also highlighted his involvement in grassroots unionist politics at Queen's University, where he led the Queen's Young Unionists and was active in the wider unionist grouping within the Students' Union. He described his Christian faith as central to his identity and said he worships at Orritor Presbyterian Church and is an active member of the Loyal Orders in Cookstown.

Basra said he would always stand up for faith, heritage, and culture, and made no apology for defending the traditions and values that shaped him and the community.

Over the coming months, Basra intends to canvass across Cookstown, meeting residents and listening to the issues that matter to them.