ESTABLISHMENT unionists must wish there were more places like Lagan Valley.
It has a small, non threatening Catholic population and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the North. It is "loyal" but quietly so.
Apart from the working class Protestant housing estates of Lisburn, there is little "in yer face" loyalism here. There is strong support for the security forces and the monarchy.
The constituency is home to both the Maze prison and Hillsborough Castle, Queen Elizabeth's official residence in Northern Ireland.
With its picture postcard villages, the area even resembles the south of England.
It is apt that the rising star of Ulster Unionism should have his first Westminster outing here. Mr Jeffrey Donaldson (34) has risen rapidly in a party not renowned encouraging young talent.
He joined the UUP at 18 and at 22 became the youngest person elected to the Northern Ireland assembly.
He was chairman of the Young Unionists and personal assistant to the former UUP leader, Sir James Molyneaux.
He is now co ordinator of the UUP's North American Bureau in Washington, and an assistant Grand Master of the Orange Order.
Sir James Molyneaux has been MP for Lagan Valley for the past 14 years; the UUP secured 60 per cent of votes in the 1992 Westminster election; so provided Mr Donaldson doesn't run off with the Duchess of York or express admiration for the IRA prisoners' escape attempt from the Maze, he will be elected with ease.
Catholics account for 13 per cent of the population. The vast majority vote SDLP. Sinn Fein is fielding a candidate but she is expected to poll only just in excess of 1,000 votes.
Alliance regularly secures about 10 per cent of the poll. The party is running its deputy leader, Mr Seamus Close.
The DUP normally gives the UUP a clear run for Westminster in Lagan Valley but Mr Edwin Poots is standing for the DUP this time. He is expected to receive around 15 per cent of the vote.
The Ulster Democratic Party, which won 6 per cent last May, is not running.
Mr Donaldson, who is married with two children, runs a financial services business. Agricultural issues will feature prominently in the campaign - Lagan Valley is home to many big farmers.
But constitutional and security issues will dominate. British army headquarters in Lisburn was the IRA's first target when it ended its de facto ceasefire in the North last year.
But Mr Donaldson won't be making Paisley style speeches. His constituents would abhor such behaviour and he isn't that sort of person anyway.
"I'm a very determined person and strong in my beliefs," he says. "But one of my golden rules is not to lose my temper. If you lose your temper, you lose the argument."
His hero is Sir James Molyneaux, the self confessed dull dog of politics. Mr Donaldson admits he also is the archetypal middle of the road man.
"My goal is to try and draw people together, to see both sides of the argument. I'm a centrist."
Some internal critics deride his lack of stridency. "Jeffrey hasn't an original thought in his head," says one. "He is a human taperecorder. He is successful because he is inoffensive and a safe pair of hands.
As a born again Christian, Mr Donaldson has "strong views on moral issues" such as abortion and homosexuality. He is widely tipped as a future UUP leader but won't be drawn on the prospect: "It's not for me ,to speculate on that type of thing.
He is looking forward to becoming an MP: "It has been a long running desire. I have loved current affairs since I was a child. My first political act was organising a petition over school dinners when I was 10."
Mr Donaldson relaxes by reading science fiction, listening to classical music, and hill walking. "Jeffrey has come a long way in a short time," says a colleague. "He isn't particularly brilliant but he is a nice guy and a hard worker."
In case Mr Donaldson is viewed as a bit boring, his colleague stresses his "impish sense of humour".
After a draining session at multi party talks, he likes nothing better than to mimic SDLP politicians when they have left the room, the source says.
