Beattie confirms leadership bid and rules out electoral pact with the DUP

Q Radio News/PA

Former Army captain Doug Beattie has confirmed he will stand to become the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.

By Monday evening the Upper Bann MLA was the only contender in the running to replace outgoing leader Steve Aiken.

He has been widely linked to the job since Mr Aiken announced his intention to resign on Saturday.

Confirmed - Upper Bann MLA Doug Beattie will be a candidate to replace Steve Aiken as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. pic.twitter.com/4TDpxKEHsr

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) May 10, 2021

The Upper Bann MLA has ruled out the prospect of any merger with the DUP to create a unified Unionist party in Northern Ireland.

Interviewed on the BBC, the former Army captain shut down suggestions of closer co-operation with the largest unionist party, the DUP.

Mr Beattie said: “We can want the same destination but we can go about it in a different way, and we have gone about in a different way because we have brought about solutions. We haven’t sucked our teeth and stood there with our hands in our pockets.”

Mr Beattie added: “Our job is to challenge them and to stand on our own two feet, and we will challenge the DUP on things we know they have got absolutely wrong.

“We will challenge them at every single level. There will not be one unionist party, that is fact.

“It does not help unionism for the DUP and the UUP to come together.”

In a bid to distance himself from the socially conservative policies of the rival unionist party Mr Beattie said that the UK government must provide full details on a move to ban gay conversion therapy - as outlined in the Queen's speech.

He said: "The LGBTQ community have been waiting a long time for this legislation and the UK Government have been promising a ban for a long time.  It is important that they move quickly to bring forward legislation and do not simply engage in kicking the can down the road."

(Doug Beattie has ruled out joining forces with the DUP in any electoral pact)

The decorated military veteran said he recognises the party and country face real challenges now and in the future.

He added he wants to present “modern, progressive” pro-union politics.

“It is not enough to sit back in defence of the union, it is time to reach out to promote the union and all its benefits,” he said.

“In doing so we can make Northern Ireland a place where people want to live regardless of identity, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity.

“I want to build a union of people where everyone feels comfortable being who they want to be with a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose.

“I want to represent a pro-union politics that offers a modern, progressive vision for the future of the UK.

“I want to build a Northern Ireland where everyone is able to enjoy a true peace and its benefits, not just the absence of violence.”

Mr Beattie said if he was elected leader he hoped to attract nationalist voters, but ruled out support for an Irish Language Act.

He said: “I absolutely love the Irish language, it’s part of our culture, it’s part of our heritage, it needs to be funded, it needs to be protected, it needs to be cherished.

“I have no issue with the Irish language – my issue is with an Act, because what is being proposed could end up driving more division in Northern Ireland."

(Irish Language Act protest - the issue of an Irish Language Act has long been a divisive issue for the Stormont Executive)

He added: “We can literally have people driving down one street, where signs and services are in English and Irish, and driving down another street where signs are in English and Ulster Scots. To me that is divisive.

“So what I want to do is take the politics out of the Irish language and try and close that gap.”

Speaking earlier today he also said he would not be taking advice from the Loyalist Communities Council.

He told the BBC: "If I meet the Loyalist Communities Council, the first thing I will be asking them is when they will be disbanding, and when they will be leaving people alone and getting their foot off the necks of people in Northern Ireland.”

Mr Beattie added: “Let’s not tar all loyalism as paramilitary groups. There is no place in our society today for any paramilitary groups. If they are here, they need to go.”

Steve Aiken who's stepping down as UUP leader and Doug Beattie, the frontrunner to replace him.

Mr Aiken’s resignation, 10 days after DUP leader Arlene Foster was forced to quit following an internal party move against her, has thrown political unionism into further turmoil.

The announcement was prompted by mounting discontent within the party over his stewardship.

Mr Beattie and former firefighter Robbie Butler, another MLA who has been linked with a bid to be party leader, stood with Mr Aiken as he spoke to the media in Stormont on Monday morning.

📽️Steve Aiken OBE MLA speaking at a press conference this morning confirming his resignation as Party leader.

1/2 pic.twitter.com/sMfLwCRuIs

— Ulster Unionist (@uuponline) May 10, 2021

But Mr Butler refused to be drawn on his intentions, instead paying tribute to Mr Aiken.

Delivering his resignation statement, South Antrim MLA Mr Aiken, a former submarine commander, said he was “aware of my limitations”.

He said: “I have taken this difficult decision because, more than ever, unionism and those in Northern Ireland who believe in the union need a clear political voice.”

He said that the UUP had delivered for the people of Northern Ireland, but added: “I am, however, self-aware enough to realise that our party, despite our strengths, is not breaking through – I am also very aware of my limitations, and despite successes over the past 19 months I realise that a change in leadership is needed.”

Mr Aiken has said he will stay in position until a successor is found.

He said there is a place for a “strong, progressive and inclusive” unionist party in Northern Ireland.

He added: “That party is the Ulster Unionist Party. Our party has delivered for the people of Northern Ireland for many years and, in the centenary of Northern Ireland, continues to do what is right – not just for unionists, but for everyone.

“If anyone doubts our credo of country over party look at how we took the health portfolio when all others avoided it – and I think we are all glad of not just our excellent health professionals, but also for the inspired leadership of Robin Swann.

“Having been in many command positions before, I know and recognise the critical point when a change is needed, for the greater good and for a reinvigoration of the fight, and that time is now.”

Ulster Unionist chairman Danny Kennedy said the change in leadership in the party would not be carried out in the same way as the DUP.

He said: “Not for us the nastiness of leadership changes carried out in dark corners like the DUP removing Arlene Foster, who frankly was deserving of better.”

(Mr Beattie is the only MLA in the running to replace Steve Aiken as leader of the UUP)