Ulster Unionist Party to choose new leader this month

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) will decide on its new leader by the end of the month.

Last week Mike Nesbitt said he would stand down as leader of the party.

Nesbitt has been UUP leader since August 2024 and it was his second stint in the role.

The party's chair, Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard, said the party would have an extraordinary general meeting on 31 January and elect an new leader and deputy leader then.

Formal nominations opened on Wednesday and will close on 15 January.

As part of this process, the party will also host two internal, members-only hustings events to allow prospective candidates to engage directly with the membership.

There has been speculation that the deputy leader, Robbie Butler, who is from the liberal wing of the party will stand for the leadership.

Another assembly member tipped to stand is former police officer Jon Burrows.

He has been an MLA since July when he was co-opted to replace Colin Crawford in North Antrim.

If both men decide to go for the job it would mean the first leadership contest in the UUP since 2012, when the outgoing leader Mike Nesbitt triumphed over John McCallister.