Gareth GordonBBC News NI political correspondent
PA
Mike Nesbitt has been UUP leader since August 2024, but it was his second stint in the role
Mike Nesbitt is to stand down as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.
He informed MLAs and party officers on Friday morning.
It is understood he wants to remain as health minister until the next assembly elections in May 2027 but that decision will be down to his successor.
In a statement, he said: “The next five-year mandate stretches to May 2032, the month I hope to celebrate my 75th birthday. That’s a commitment to full-time politics I just do not feel I can make.”
He added: “I would not be comfortably seeking a vote knowing that privately I was intending to retire during the mandate.”
He also said: “I retook the leadership to do a short-term job of getting the party 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.”
Nesbitt has been UUP leader since August 2024 and it was his second stint in the role.
He won the contest in 2012, but quit in 2017 after disappointing assembly election results.
Since then, Robin Swann, Steve Aiken, Doug Beattie and Nesbitt again have been handed the leadership unopposed with no noticeable upturn in the once-mighty party’s fortunes.
A party spokesperson described Nesbitt’s decision to step down as a “pivotal moment”.
“Party officers will shortly outline the leadership selection process, ensuring an inclusive, engaging and seamless transition.”
Analysis: What chance does a new leader have?
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Deputy leader Robbie Butler (left) is from the liberal wing of the party and Jon Burrows (right) has been an MLA since July when he was co-opted in
Speculation on who might follow will now fall on two characters who could hardly contrast more.
The deputy leader, Robbie Butler, is from the liberal wing of the party. He was brought into politics by Nesbitt during his first tenure as leader and studiously avoids controversy.
Jon Burrows on the other hand seems to positively relish it.
The former police officer has only been an MLA since July when he was co-opted to replace Colin Crawford in North Antrim but he’s made up for lost time with frequent and often controversial statements on a wide range of issues.
If both men decide to go for the job it would mean the first leadership contest in the UUP since 2012 when Nesbitt triumphed over John McCallister.
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Robin Swann, (left) Steve Aiken, (centre) and Doug Beattie (right) were, like Nesbitt, all handed the leadership unopposed
Nesbitt probably found reviving the party whilst running the health department one impossible job too many.
He said several months ago that he would decide by January at the latest “in fairness to whoever might be coming in”.
He will hope the new leader acquiesces to his plea to be allowed to remain in the job until next May.
Like his predecessor in the UUP hot seat Doug Beattie, he was a progressive leader.
Robbie Butler would represent a continuation of that trend.
But Jon Burrows is much more of an unknown quantity.
In the world of the Ulster Unionist Party it is one never ending game of Follow The Leader.
If the ever lengthening list of ex-UUP leaders couldn’t mount a comeback what chance do they have?