2024 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election

Last updated
2024 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election
←  2021 14 September 2024
Leader before election

Doug Beattie

Elected Leader

TBD

An election for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) will be held in 14 September 2024 at an extraordinary meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council following the resignation of incumbent leader Doug Beattie on 19 August 2024 following internal tensions surrounding the selection of Colin Crawford as the party's new North Antrim assembly member. [1]

Contents

Possible contenders for the leadership included former leader and current Health Minister Mike Nesbitt as well as deputy leader Robbie Butler and Chief Whip John Stewart. [2] However, Butler reportedly ruled himself out on 20 August 2024. [3]

Background

Division within the UUP

Under Beattie's leadership, the UUP returned to the House of Commons at the 2024 general election following Robin Swann's victory in South Antrim. [4] The party selected Colin Crawford to succeed Swann as Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for North Antirm in July 2024. [5] It is reported there were "irreconcilable differences" between Beattie and party officers over the selection of Crawford. [6] It is believed only two party officers had supported Beattie prior to his decision to step down as leader. [7]

This also followed a split within the party in February 2024 over Beattie's desire for the UUP to enter opposition at Stormont despite the majority of his colleagues disagreeing. In the event, the UUP took the health portfolio in the Executive when devolution returned. [8] UUP MLA Andy Allen then criticised the appointment of Robin Swann as Health Minister as Swann was already confirmed as a Westminster candidate. [9]

The appointment of Mike Nesbitt as Health Minister in May 2024 following Swann's resignation prompted a resignation from the UUP after Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Councillor Paul Michael resigned citing Nesbitt's breach of the COVID-19 regulations during the pandemic in which he was involved in an extramarital affair as the reason. [10]

Resignation of Doug Beattie

Amid speculation over his position, Beattie released a statement on 19 August 2024 confirming his resignation: [11]

It is now clear that some believe the momentum needed to keep the Ulster Unionist Party moving in the right direction cannot come from me. Irreconcilable differences between myself and Party Officers combined with the inability to influence and shape the party going forward means that I can no longer remain the Party Leader. Therefore, I shall stand down as the Party Leader and allow the party to immediately begin the process to select a new leader who may maintain the confidence of the party and continue the momentum I have started.

Former UUP North Belfast Assembly candidate and former councillor Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston spearheaded a grassroots revolt within the UUP aiming for a no confidence vote to be held in party officers who “forced” out Beattie as leader. The campaign ultimately wanted Beattie back as leader of the party. They were seeking to gather 30 signatures of members of the UUP’s Executive Committee in order for a wider meeting of representatives to be called and a no confidence vote held. [12] Beattie stated on 21 August that it "would simply not be credible, or right, for me to put my name forward to be re-elected as the party leader." He said he will back a "moderate and inclusive" new leader. [13] Corr-Johnston and a second former councillor consequently resigned from the UUP. [14]

On 21 August 2024, UUP Chair and party officer Jill Macauley sent correspondence to all party members disputing Beattie's claim that he resigned due to "irreconcilable differences" with party officers. In the message, Macauley said that was "not the case" and that party officers had "worked hard to seek a positive outcome", but that it was not possible. She said Beattie's resignation was unforced and that party leaders "did not request it". [15]

Campaign

The UUP is currently operating under a media blackout on the events embroiling the party following Beattie's exit. [16] Despite reports that deputy leader Robbie Butler had ruled himself out of the contest, there has been some speculation that liberal unionists Butler and Chief Whip John Stewart will run on a joint ticket for the leadership and deputy leadership to keep the party on the progressive path started by Beattie. [17]

Procedure

The Belfast Telegraph reported that UUP party officers met on 20 August 2024 to agree on a selection process for their new leader. The officer board comprises 14 representatives from various levels of government. [18]

Key dates [19]
DateEvent
20–30 AugustNomination period; potential candidates needed to gather 35 signatures from 9 constituency associations before 16:30 BST on Friday 30 August.
14 SeptemberAn extraordinary meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council will be held to elect or ratify the new leader.

Candidates

Potential candidates for the leadership include Member of Parliament (MP) for South Antrim Robin Swann and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA. [20] Professor Jon Tonge from the University of Liverpool stated he believed current deputy leader Robbie Butler MLA and Ulster Unionist Chief Whip John Stewart MLA will seek the party leadership. However, Butler subsequently ruled himself out. [3] Asked if he would consider returning as leader, the health minister Mike Nesbitt said he had not given that possibility a "millisecond's thought". [21]

Potential

Declined

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References

  1. ↑ "Doug Beattie quits as Ulster Unionist leader". BBC News. 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  2. ↑ "UUP: Doug Beattie says he won't run again for party leader". BBC News. 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  3. 1 2 3 "Grassroots revolt within UUP against party officers after Doug Beattie 'forced out' as leader". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 20 August 2024. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  4. ↑ "South Antrim report: UUP's Robin Swann comfortably regains seat party lost in 2017". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  5. ↑ "Colin Crawford selected as the new MLA for North Antrim". UUP Live. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  6. ↑ "Doug Beattie quits as Ulster Unionist leader". BBC News. 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  7. ↑ "Doug Beattie: UUP open nominations for new party leader". BBC News. 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  8. ↑ Young, David (2024-08-19). "Doug Beattie – a leader who felt he was not being allowed to lead". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  9. ↑ "Stormont needs a health minister focused on task, not with one eye on Westminster says UUP colleague". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2024-02-04. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  10. ↑ McCarthy, James Martin (2024-05-28). "Health Minister to stand down as UUP set to vote against budget". Belfast Live. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  11. ↑ "A Statement from Doug Beattie MC MLA". UUP Live. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  12. ↑ "Grassroots revolt within UUP against party officers after Doug Beattie 'forced out' as leader". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2024-08-20. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  13. ↑ "Statement from Doug Beattie MC MLA". UUP Live. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  14. ↑ https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/former-councillors-quit-party-uup-29786126
  15. ↑ "UUP: Doug Beattie says he won't run again for party leader". BBC News. 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  16. ↑ https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/senior-uup-figures-fears-over-deepening-divisions-after-doug-beattie-quits-4750164
  17. ↑ https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/robbie-butler-and-john-stewart-joint-ticket-for-uup-leadership-mooted-but-its-unclear-who-would-take-top-job-4751042
  18. ↑ "UUP selection meeting taking place following Beattie resignation". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2024-08-20. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  19. ↑ "Nominations open for new UUP leader". BBC News. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  20. ↑ "UUP: A party of warring tribes loses another leader". BBC News. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  21. ↑ "Doug Beattie quits as Ulster Unionist leader". BBC News. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  22. ↑ "Doug Beattie rules himself out of fresh UUP leadership bid". The Irish News. 21 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  23. ↑ "Who could replace Doug Beattie as UUP leader? Two former leaders and current deputy in contention". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 19 August 2024. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  24. ↑ "Statement from Doug Beattie MC MLA". UUP Live. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  25. ↑ "UUP: Doug Beattie says he won't run again for party leader". BBC News. 21 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
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