UUP chair Lord Elliott says any Unionist realignment has to be for the betterment of unionism and NI
The chair of the UUP has floated the notion of unionist realignment under a future leader – a sentiment echoed by the DUP chief Gavin Robinson.
Lord Tom Elliott (pictured) has also tried to persuade Mike Nesbitt to stay on as leader until after the next election – and thanked him for taking up the post at a time of “turmoil” for the party in 2024.
Reacting to the news that the UUP leader was stepping down, his rival Gavin Robinson wished him well.
“I had a good working relationship with Mike and I look forward to working with his successor in the interests of delivering the pro-Union co-operation sought by our wider unionist community”, the DUP leader posted on social media.
Speaking to the News Letter, UUP chair Lord Elliott said Mr Nesbitt had secured a good team around him, and if he were to start focusing more on leadership “he could have seen us through and provided that stability” into the next assembly election.
There had been some frustration from within the party that Mr Nesbitt was focused on his role as health minister, and not the party leadership. However, there have been significant changes to the party’s systems, structures and staffing which have been broadly welcomed.
Lord Elliott says that he expects any leadership bids to be submitted early next week, and if there is to be a contest that it would be wrapped up by the end of January or early February.
He told Cool FM: “We've had a number of leaders in the last few years, and I don't see any of those that were previous leaders wanting to go back in. So, we're potentially going in a new direction – whoever takes that on. Maybe not in a massively different direction, but you will always get some changes”.
On potential unionist realignment, Lord Elliott said: “What we have to do has to be for a betterment of unionism, and it's not to bring it back. So it takes more than the UUP. It takes more than one to tango, it takes others as well. So you have to see how willing others are to to, I suppose, have those discussions. To see if there's any potential for relationships, and there may not be – but let’s see what’s better for the people of Northern Ireland”.