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LAST UPDATE | 19 Aug 2024
LEADER OF THE Ulster Unionist Party Doug Beattie has this morning announced that he is standing down.
In a statement published by the UUP, Beattie cited “irreconcilable differences” between himself and party officers.
He said this combined with “the inability to influence and shape the party going forward” means that he can no longer remain the party leader.
“It is now clear that some believe the momentum needed to keep the Ulster Unionist Party moving in the right direction cannot come from me,” he said.
Beattie added that being leader of the party has been a “huge honour” but that it has also been “lonely and isolating”.
“I am no stranger to leadership and that is how it often feels in taking a toll both physically and mentally. It also strains friendships and political relationships,” Beattie said in the statement.
The party will now immediately begin a process of selecting a new leader.
Earlier today, BBC News Northern Ireland reported that it understood there have been internal tensions over Beattie’s position in recent weeks.
According to the BBC, the tensions relate to the selection of Colin Crawford as the party’s new North Antrim MLA following last month’s UK elections.
Crawford was chosen to replace Robin Swann who was elected as an MP for South Antrim.
Beattie has been leader of the UUP since May 2021, with the party having three leaders since Mike Nesbitt resigned in the aftermath of the 2017 Northern Ireland assembly election following a poor result for the party.
Swan’s election to Westminster last month was the first seat regained by the party after a number of difficult electoral performances.
Initially, the UUP experienced a “Beattie bounce” following his election as leader, with the party overtaking the DUP in opinion polls, however this was short-lived with the party subsequently performing poorly in local and assembly polls.
In his statement this morning, Beattie noted that Swann’s election in July was the first time a UUP MP has been returned to Westminister in seven years.
He added that the party increased its vote share slighty and had a member elevated to the House of Lords for the first time in thirteen years.
The party will now re-establish its parliamentary party to help increase its “influence and ensure the Ulster Unionists voice, promoting a positive, optimistic, pro-union vision, is heard”, Beattie added.
He concluded his statement by saying: “It is important to acknowledge the loyalty and support from many within the party. This includes the MLA group and many other elected and non-elected members.
“I must also acknowledge that some did not agree with the direction and path I set for the party and the vision I promoted. I hope they can see that in the long term only an inclusive Ulster Unionist Party, promoting a positive message, can secure our future. I hope the new leader is given the freedom to act.”
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1 this afternoon, former UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said Beattie’s decision came as a shock.
Nesbitt, who is currently Minister for Health in Northern Ireland, said he was saddened to see Beattie go, describing him as an impressive elected representative.
Nesbitt ruled out a bid for UUP leadership.
He refused to provide further insight into Beattie’s decision to step down.
“I’m not prepared to start speculating on the why’s and why nots. That’s something that will have to be addressed internally. We have a challenge,” Nesbitt said.
Political leaders have this afternoon paid tribute to Beattie, with many praising his commitment to the best interests of the people in Northern Ireland.
First Minister and vice president of Sinn Féin Michelle O’Neill said she had worked constructively with Beattie since he became leader of the UUP, including during the restoration of the Executive and institutions at the beginning of this year.
She added: “I will continue this constructive approach with the new leader of the UUP when they take up post.”
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said that while he differed from Mr Beattie on tactics, there was “no doubt that Doug is a committed Unionist”.
Mr Robinson criticised UUP electoral strategy and said divisions within unionism had handed seats to non-unionists.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Simon Harris said Beattie “has been a responsible and constructive leader in Northern Ireland during times of great challenge in recent years”.
Tánaiste and Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said he always appreciated Beattie’s “emphasis on making politics work”.
He said he looks forward to building the same ties with Beattie’s successor.
I wish Doug Beattie well. Sorry to see him stepping back from leading the UUP. I always found Doug to be fair, tough when needed, reasonable and positive.
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) August 19, 2024
Of course we didn’t agree on everything, but Doug was someone I trusted and respected as a strong unionist leader.
Responding to Beattie’s resignation, former Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney wished him well on X, formerly Twitter.
“I always found Doug to be fair, tough when needed, reasonable and positive. Of course we didn’t agree on everything, but Doug was someone I trusted and respected as a strong unionist leader,” Coveney wrote.
Elsewhere, President Michael D Higgins said he “appreciated” all of his contact with Beattie, which he described as “warm and positive on our shared path to peace and reconciliation, North and South”.
He also acknowledged Beattie’s “open and courageous recognition of the challenges experienced, which I am sure has helped many others in and beyond his community”.
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Used to listen to Newstalk but Chris Donaghue does my head in with his politically correct büllshit…….
I stopped due to him too. That, and Moncrieff is trying too hard these days.
If there is a PC bandwagon doing the rounds you can be sure that Sean Moncrieff will be on it. A decent enough interviewer though. I’ll give him that. That said it, most of the people he interviews are book-pluggers.
Chris Donoghue personifies the modern politically correct ‘New Man’.
Incapable of uttering an honest opinion on anything.
He doesn;t have an opinion. He suckles on Ivan’s tittie.
Sean Montcrieffe has a problem with the letter ‘E’
University becomes UnivUrsity
Have a listen.
I used to listen to newstalk breakfast also but for me Ivan did my head in.
Rte lies and propaganda https://youtu.be/aG7JmlQXBt0
It’s Ivan does my head in. Too much blue shirt propaganda.
Even without Kenny? Funny the way they tried to convince us they couldn’t do without him when he was on 90K a year.
That breakfast republic is torture, all they play is cheesy shite dance crap you hear in every girls clothes shop.
I blame Jennuendo Maguire
Now would be a good time to cut RTE’s budget again then. Let them compete in the real world.
These figures mean nothing as is. The true success story here is that Newstalk are, on a shoestring budget, a tiny tiny fractions of the resources and finances, are solidly competing with RTE.
For music stations we need to go the way of the Americans and play music.
Nobody wants to hear a DJ.
That was ok 20 years ago before the internet. Peoples heads are too full of media commentary.
They want peace.
That’s why people are tuning in to Phantom.
Less is more.
I’m surprised at how small Lyrics listenership is, I find myself listening to it more and more, except for John Kelly who can play some woeful arty farty shite.
Never a more accurate head line on the Journal, RTE is Pro Fine Gael.
€290 million in tv licence fees should give them just a slight advantage over the competition.
Roll on truthful alternative media.
Roll on the infowar.
I can safely say I have never listened to any RTE Radio 1 show apart from the odd news or sports bulletin. Can’t stand any of the presenters. Bunch of overpaid talentless idiots
How do u know if you haven’t listened to any of them? I don’t listen either but I can’t say anymore than that.
Beano given that you have such strong optimists on RTE which you never listen to according to yourself I just wondering if you have any strong opinions on books you haven’t read or movies you haven’t seen that you want to share with us?
I’ve watched Duffy, Finucane, O’Callaghan, D’Arcy on telly and thought they were all $hite. I think it’s a fairly accurate assumption to think that they will also be $hite on the radio. Are you saying they’re not?
Good judge of character Beano.
Spot on!!!
Overpaid Dry Handpuppet Lackeys.
RTE should be scrapped
Sink or swim. Cut them loose. RTE takes vast amounts of public money to allegedly provide a public service AND they take money for colossal amounts of advertising. The RTE player is basically unusable now with all the advertising on it. Where is all that money going to? Into the pockets of the friends and relations, and of course their ”stars”.. The same talentless ”stars” that wouldn’t be poached to make the tea at a local radio station in Moldova, never mind the BBC.
Ryan Tubridy is FF, Miriam O’ Callaghan is FF. The media giant’s right hand woman Lucy Gaffney is going for top RTE job.
Any people like Miriam who has a brother running in the elections for ff should step aside during the elections and that goes for any one else in RTE. It is the state broadcaster and should be neutral.
RTE lost two of their best when they SHAFTED John Clarke & then let Alf Mc go too
Can’t wait to pay my broadcast licence in 2016
There was a European Court ruling a few years ago that state funded media outlets were not to engage in ratings wars.
Doesn’t seem to have had any effect on the chiefs at Montrose though.
The real test?
Take away the license fee. let these people stand on their own two feet on a level playing field.
Doubt if RTE would even make the top four.
Agreed Oran,
The are lots of instances where State funding or tax exempt status needs to be reviewed and removed. The two biggies being RTE and the RC Church.
When Bowie died, I heard ‘music’ on the radio for the first time in years. I guarantee Eurovision 2016 selection is one big free promo for a Nicky Byrne album down the line. RTE are an embarrassment.
I grab the morning news headlines on RTE Radio 1 and then switch over to BBC Radio 4 or LBC London.
I usually switch away when they start repeating the mantra “RTE Supporting the Arts” over and over and over again ad infinitum.
I heard that mantra repeated 5 times in 5 minutes a few months back.
(Reminds me of the “Allah Akbar” you hear endlessly on Middle East news reports).
I hit the button.
Joe Duffy is amazing, I love listening to Irish people moaning !
Now, if only we had a left wing radio station we could infer an election result.
Matt Cooper brings me home everyday. He’s my fave.
Cooper is – like all Newstalk presenters – a DOBshite, all their integrity as journalists is completely compromised as long as they live off the purse strings of their media oligarch despot of a boss.
Maybe but they extremely one sided
Bbc 4 extra great station
RTE Supporting the Arts?
Like dropping Lyric FM’s hour-long Jazz Alley presented by Donald Helme..
One hour of jazz a week which used to be 90 minutes.
Another example of mediocrity in management.
Good results or Journal reprinting hype ?
‘Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow’
Why can’t I stop singing that line.
Damn you, now it is in my head.
Pardon me but I thought that the first paragraph said that more than half listen to a local radio station and 46% listen to a national station. By this reckoning the local radio secttor is beating the pants off the national celebrity sector! What follows then is a blow by blow account of ratings for our failing national ego celebs! Strange reporting of the facts but nothing new for the Irish media?
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