Mike Nesbitt to Step Down as Ulster Unionist Party Leader Ahead of Next Northern Ireland Assembly Election
Mike Nesbitt has announced his decision to stand down as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), informing MLAs and party officers on Friday morning. This move is intended to allow his successor sufficient time to establish themselves ahead of the next Northern Ireland assembly election and to prevent the challenges of combining the health minister role with party leadership close to the election.
Nesbitt, who has led the UUP since August 2024 and previously held the leadership from 2012 until his resignation in 2017, indicated that he has no preferred candidate to succeed him. While he would like to continue serving as health minister, this depends on who takes over the party leadership. He also stated that he would not seek a vote if he planned to retire during the current five-year mandate, which runs until May 2032.
The decision to retake the leadership was a short-term plan aimed at preparing the party for the upcoming election and positioning it with a platform of confident, responsible unionism for the May 2027 polls. Potential successors include deputy leader Robbie Butler, representing the liberal wing, and Jon Burrows, who has been an MLA since July. A leadership contest is anticipated, marking the first such contest since 2012.
