Doug Beattie appeals to UUP members as he faces fight to keep Stormont seat - but does not rule out joining another party

The former leader has acknowledged that he may not have sold himself properly, and says he will now go out and make his pitch to party members as an “honest and hard working” MLA.

Mr Beattie says he has proven himself on multiple occasions – and wants to be returned to represent the party in Upper Bann.

However, he did not rule out the possibility of running for another party during a radio interview in the wake of news that he faces deselection by his local branch.

Members of the Ulster Unionist Party in Upper Bann look set to pick councillor Kyle Savage to be the party’s candidate for the 2027 election at a key meeting next month.

However, Mr Beattie is intent on having his name on the ballot come the next Stormont elections, whether that is on an Ulster Unionist ticket or not.

There is no obvious alternative to the UUP for Mr Beattie. It seems unlikely he would seek to join the DUP or TUV, and despite being a liberal within his party, he has sharp policy differences with Alliance – particularly on issues such as women’s rights and single sex sports and spaces.

Asked about reports that he may join another party on the BBC’s Nolan Show, the former UUP leader said he was focused on being selected for the next Assembly term.

“It would be really foolish of me to sit here and say to you, if I am deselected, people are talking about it, that's up to them to talk about it.

“I'm absolutely focused in getting selected to run in the next Assembly election. If I am not selected, then I must decide where I go”, he said.

The UUP MLA added: “There's a human element to all of this. And I'm human like everybody else, and I have to decide where I go if I'm not selected”. Mr Beattie said he is focused on getting himself selected, “and hopefully that will happen in the next number of months, and then I can focus on winning the next Assembly election in Upper Bann”.

Asked by presenter Stephen Nolan if he had any conversations with any other political party about joining, he said: “I honestly won't be discussing any more than what I've said to you, my friend, and I do so respectfully.

“And you know, I am respectful. I don't hide from anything, but it was right and proper that we have internal party processes, and it's right and proper that I don't try and circumvent them in any shape or form. So I can leave it there.”

Asked if he had a message to those in the party who wish to see him deselected, Doug Beattie said: “The bottom line is this... I have proven myself on multiple occasions, and I want to continue to serve the people of Upper Bann, but the choice is theirs.

“I can't blame the people who don't want me because I haven't sold myself properly. But it's up to me to get out there and do that.

“So I would ask people to look at me if… they believe that I'm honest and hard working, and that I will get elected again, which I believe I would, if I was to run for the Ulster Unionist Party... but it's really up to them”, he said.

Doug Beattie has had a difficult relationship with his local association for some time – as well as with some party officers. His relationship with the latter resulted in the end of his leadership of the party.

There has also been a wider tension between the party’s longer serving MLAs in the Assembly and party members – many of whom view them as too liberal or indecisive.

Those same members are believed to have been behind Jon Burrows’s uncontested romp to victory when Mike Nesbitt vacated the leadership in January.

The only potential challenger was Lagan Valley MLA Robbie Butler, who decided against putting his name forward.

Since then, there has been some tension within the MLA group, with some of the Stormont old guard unhappy at the direct and combative approach of the new leader.

The BBC reported on Tuesday that there was “anger” about a recent video posted on the party's X site, which featured Mr Burrows standing in front of Stormont's Parliament Buildings.

In the clip he said “People deserve better. For too long the people in here have delivered for themselves and not for the people of Northern Ireland.”

One source told the broadcaster: “He could have at least said some parties differentiating between his own party and some of the others.”

The BBC reported that the leader was asked to delete the video but refused.

A UUP spokesperson said: “All candidate selection activity within the Ulster Unionist Party is governed by its rules and standing orders.

“The Party appreciates that its internal procedures may, on occasion, attract outside interest. However, it would not be appropriate for the Party to offer comment on the details of matters of this nature. Such matters are properly dealt with through the Party's own structures and are, ultimately, an internal matter.

“The Ulster Unionist Party conducts its internal affairs in accordance with its rules and standing orders, and has nothing further to add.”