Mike Nesbitt to stand down as leader
gareth gordonBBC News NI political correspondent
P.A.Mike Nesbitt will resign as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.
He informed MLAs and party officials on Friday morning.
It is understood that he wants to remain as health minister until the next parliamentary elections in May 2027, but this decision will be left to his successor.
A few months ago, he said he would make a decision by January at the latest “to be fair to whoever comes in.”
Analysis: What are the chances of a new leader?
BBC/PASpeculation about who might follow him will now come down to two characters who couldn’t be more contrasted.
Deputy leader Robbie Butler is from the liberal wing of the party. He was drawn into politics by Nesbitt during his first term as leader and studiously avoided controversy.
Jon Burrows, on the other hand, seems to be positively enjoying it.
The former police officer had been an MLA since July. Elected to replace Colin Crawford He is in North Antrim but is making up for lost time by making frequent and often controversial statements on a wide range of subjects.
If both men decide to run for office, it would mean the first leadership contest in the UUP since 2012. Nesbitt defeated John McCallister.
PA/BBC/PANesbitt probably found it too much to revive the party while running the health department that it was an impossible task.
He hopes the new leader will agree to his request to be allowed to stay in office until next May.
Like his predecessor in the UUP hotseat, Doug Beattie, he was a progressive leader.
Robbie Butler will represent the continuation of this trend.
But Jon Burrows is a much more unknown quantity.
In the world of the Ulster Unionist Party, it’s a never-ending game of Follow the Leader.
If the growing list of former UUP leaders cannot stage a comeback, what chance do they have?
