Ulster Unionists preparing for first leadership contest in more than a decade?
The Ulster Unionist Party could be preparing for its first battle for the top seat in five leaders.
On Friday, Mike Nesbitt announced he was stepping down from his second stint at the helm of the party, though he’s to stay on as both Health Minister and Strangford MLA.
But if more than one member of the party throws their hat into the leadership ring, it’ll be the first time the UUP has faced a contest since Mr Nesbitt first took the top seat in 2012.
All the leaders since then – Robin Swann, Steve Aiken, Doug Beattie and Mr Nesbitt again – ran unopposed, making their leadership campaigns effective coronations instead of contests.
In the wake of Mr Nesbitt’s resignation announcement, some big names have been tipped as potential next chiefs, including including current deputy Robbie Butler and one very recent arrival – Jon Burrows, formerly a high-profile policeman and who became an MLA last summer.
Announcing his departure after 15 months helming the party, Mr Nesbitt said he’d completed his short-term job of getting the UUP “match fit for the forthcoming election campaign”.
“That job is now done so the time is right to select the politician who will lead us into the May 2027 polls promoting our brand of confident, responsible unionism,” he said.
Announcing he would leave politics altogether at the next election, he pointed out that by the time the subsequent Stormont term ends in May 2032, he’ll be celebrating his 75th birthday.
“That’s a commitment to full-time politics I just do not feel I can make,” he said, “and I would not be comfortably seeking a vote knowing that privately I was intending to retire during the mandate.”
Both Mr Butler and Mr Burrows thanked the departing leader for his stewardship, each crediting him for getting them into politics.
Mr Butler praised his “leadership and service to modern and positive unionism” while Mr Burrows said he’d provided “selfless and public service-driven leadership which provided our party vital stability when it was needed most”.
While helming the UUP, Mr Nesbitt delegated much of the leadership role to Mr Butler to focus on the health ministry.