The Health Minister of Northern Ireland, Mike Nesbitt, is the favoured candidate to take over leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), following Doug Beattie’s sudden resignation earlier this month. Beattie left his position due to what he referred to as unsolvable differences with party officers, as well as his inability to affect meaningful change within the party.
Robbie Butler, the UUP’s deputy leader and a representative for Lagan Valley, has made it public that he will not be vying for the leadership role and has instead pledged his support for Nesbitt. The Strangford MLA, Nesbitt, has previously held the party’s leadership role from 2012 to 2017. Should he be chosen, Nesbitt would be the first party leader in UUP’s history to serve a second term.
Butler stressed that the fate of UUP and broader political unionism in Northern Ireland should always be prioritised whenever considering changes and the associated roles people will occupy. “A renewed and invigorated UUP leadership team headed by Mike Nesbitt presents an exhilarating opportunity to not only establish the outlook of a contemporary, driven, and energetic branch of unionism for Northern Ireland’s residents, but also to progressively overhaul party structures for our members”, stated Butler.
He also expressed optimism that working together would stimulate both the party and political scene. Equally important, he argued, is guaranteeing that pro-Union, persuadable and silent non-voters find a political home that aligns with and personifies their vision for a thriving future for everyone.
Applications for the leadership role began last week and are set to end at 4.30pm on the 30th of August. A special general meeting planned for the 14th of September will confirm or decide on the new leader.
There has been no announcement yet from any candidate expressing their plans to enter the leadership race. However, it is believed that numerous elected and non-elected members have encouraged Mr Nesbitt to nominate himself. He is currently the sole MLA among the party’s total of nine, who is intending to do so.
Under the UUP’s regulations, a member can step into the race for the position if they acquire the endorsement of 30 colleagues, listed from nine different constituency associations.
Previously, Mr Beattie, the former UUP leader who resigned earlier this month, managed to secure an uncontested lead in 2021. An honoured army veteran, who transitioned into being an MLA for Upper Bann, he attempted to resurrect the party’s fortunes through promoting a style of liberal unionism. His goal was to differentiate it from the DUP whilst attracting former unionist voters who had defected to Alliance.
In 2022, controversy erupted over a sequence of disrespectful social media comments Beattie made while he was still an army personnel. Notwithstanding the scandal, he expressed contrition and continued to serve as the leader with his party’s support.
His tenure oversaw the party achieving its best electoral success in recent history, when they managed to secure their first seat at Westminster since 2017, in the general election of July.