Jump to content

2024 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 2024 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]

Background

[edit]

Division within the UUP

[edit]

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.[2] The party selected Colin Crawford to succeed Swann as Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for North Antirm in July 2024.[3] It is reported there were "irreconcilable differences" between Beattie and party officers over the selection of Crawford.[4]

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.[5] UUP MLA Andy Allen then criticised the appointment of Robin Swann as Health Minister as Swann was already confirmed as a Westminster candidate.[6]

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.[7]

Resignation of Doug Beattie

[edit]

Amid speculation over his position, Beattie released a statement on 19 August 2024 confirming his resignation:[8]

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.

Grassroots opposition to Beattie's resignation

[edit]

As of 20 August 2024, former UUP North Belfast Assembly candidate Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston is spearheading 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 wants Beattie back as leader of the party. They are 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.[9] 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[10]

Procedure

[edit]

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.[11]

Calls for an emergency meeting of the UUP Executive Committee

[edit]

Attempts are being made to seek an emergency meeting of the UUP executive amid anger at party officers over Beattie's resignation. Some 15% of members would need to back the proposal for it to happen.[12]

Timetable

[edit]
Key dates[13]
Date Event
20–30 August Nomination period; potential candidates needed to gather 35 signatures from 9 constituency associations before 16:30 BST on Friday 30 August.
14 September An extraordinary meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council will be held to elect or ratify the new leader.

Candidates

[edit]

Potential candidates for the leadership include Member of Parliament (MP) for South Antrim Robin Swann and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA.[14] 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 ruled himself out subsequently.[15] Asked if he would consider returning as leader, the health minister Mike Nesbitt said he had not given that possibility a "millisecond's thought".[16]

Potential

[edit]

Declined

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Doug Beattie quits as Ulster Unionist leader". BBC News. 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  2. ^ "South Antrim report: UUP's Robin Swann comfortably regains seat party lost in 2017". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  3. ^ "Colin Crawford selected as the new MLA for North Antrim". UUP Live. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  4. ^ "Doug Beattie quits as Ulster Unionist leader". BBC News. 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  5. ^ Young, David (2024-08-19). "Doug Beattie – a leader who felt he was not being allowed to lead". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ McCarthy, James Martin (2024-05-28). "Health Minister to stand down as UUP set to vote against budget". Belfast Live. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  8. ^ "A Statement from Doug Beattie MC MLA". UUP Live. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Statement from Doug Beattie MC MLA". UUP Live. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  11. ^ "UUP selection meeting taking place following Beattie resignation". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2024-08-20. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  12. ^ "Doug Beattie: UUP meeting sought amid anger at party officers". BBC News. 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  13. ^ "Nominations open for new UUP leader". BBC News. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  14. ^ "UUP: A party of warring tribes loses another leader". BBC News. 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  15. ^ a b "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.
  16. ^ "Doug Beattie quits as Ulster Unionist leader". BBC News. 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  17. ^ "Who could replace Doug Beattie as UUP leader? Two former leaders and current deputy in contention". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2024-08-19. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  18. ^ "Statement from Doug Beattie MC MLA". UUP Live. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2024_Ulster_Unionist_Party_leadership_election&oldid=1241491224"