| Election Date: | 14 September 2024 |
| Previous Election: | 2021 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election |
| Previous Year: | 2021 |
| Election Name: | 2024 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election |
| Type: | presidential |
| Leader | |
| Before Election: | Doug Beattie |
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]
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] It is believed only two party officers had supported Beattie prior to his decision to step down as leader.[5]
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.[6] UUP MLA Andy Allen then criticised the appointment of Robin Swann as Health Minister as Swann was already confirmed as a Westminster candidate.[7]
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.[8]
Amid speculation over his position, Beattie released a statement on 19 August 2024 confirming his resignation:[9]
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 wants 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.[10] 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.[11] Corr-Johnston and a second former councillor consequently resigned from the UUP.[12]
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".[13]
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.[14]
| Nomination period; potential candidates needed to gather 35 signatures from 9 constituency associations before 16:30 BST on Friday 30 August. | ||
| An extraordinary meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council will be held to elect or ratify the new leader. |
Potential candidates for the leadership include Member of Parliament (MP) for South Antrim Robin Swann and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA.[15] 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. 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]