Nominations close today in race to replace Mike Nesbitt as UUP leader

​At the time of going to print on Wednesday, there was still no indication about whether Robbie Butler would throw his hat in the ring and spark a full contest.

The current deputy leader announced he was considering running for the position last year, but with just hours to go until nominations closed he was remaining tight-lipped about his intentions.

Candidates need to secure 35 signatures from 9 of the Ulster Unionist Party’s constituency associations across Northern Ireland, which must be submitted by 5pm today (Thursday).

In a post on his X social media account at the weekend, Mr Butler said he was back on the “engagement trail” – adding “Not new. Not sudden. Just consistent”.

Jon Burrows launched his bid for the leadership last Thursday, saying that Northern Ireland needs “fresh thinking and strong leadership” to break through the “malaise” at Stormont.

Appearing alongside running mate Diana Armstrong, he said the pair want “straight talking” and to see the party leading politics here once more.

At the weekend, he signalled his intent to shift party policy more in line with its membership – telling the News Letter that the UUP should “go further and be clearer” on changing climate legislation.

The issue had caused friction within the party in recent years, but last October Mr Butler acknowledged that the 2030 target appears unrealistic – and said “revision should be considered”.

However, Mr Burrows backed a much more radical rethink – saying that “simply pushing an unrealistic target further down the road would not be a wise approach”.

There have been rumblings from within the party’s Stormont representatives – who largely back Robbie Butler – about what a Burrows leadership would entail, and briefings to journalists that there could be splits among the MLA team over the direction of the party. However, senior party sources have dismissed these concerns, saying there is little between the pair on major policy areas.