Doug Beattie election could see Sinn Féin scoop up First Minister role

By Q Radio News

Doug Beattie being crowned as the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party could lead to Michelle O’Neill becoming First Minister next year. 

That’s according to one political pundit who believes a merger would be needed for Unionism to hold sway at Stormont. 

Doug Beattie being crowned as the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party could lead to Michelle O’Neill becoming First Minister next year. https://t.co/CAbSy1Z67x

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) May 18, 2021

Professor Jon Tonge acknowledged there is no support for the UUP and DUP becoming a single party - but says it could be bad news for both in the upcoming assembly elections: 

The political commentator said that with Mr Beattie as leader, the Ulster Unionist Party could take seats off the DUP, which would mean they would no longer be the largest party in the assembly.

He told Q Radio: “Sinn Féin becomes the largest party and that means Sinn Féin provides the First Minister.”

 Army veteran Doug Beattie was deemed elected as the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party yesterday after it was confirmed he was the only candidate to put his name forward for election since former Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken stepped down.

Party chair Danny Kennedy told a Stormont press conference yesterday that Mr Beattie, 55, was therefore deemed elected, subject to ratification by the party council on May 27.

Mr Beattie, who served as a soldier for 34 years and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery in combat, promised a “progressive and unifying” agenda.

“I feel the weight of expectation on my shoulder, we are an historic party, we are the party of (Edward) Carson and (James) Craig, but we are a modernising party and we are a party that wants to reach out,” he said.

Stressing that his party would not enter into a pact with his rival unionist party he added:

"I’ve always seen clear blue water between the DUP and the Ulster Unionist Party on many different issues, certainly on our policies that we stand on – if that’s widened, then it’s widened, but that’s good for unionism, because that gives unionism a choice and those disenfranchised unionists who may be more centre or centre right, will find a home with the Ulster Unionist Party, those who are maybe more to the right may well find a home with a DUP."

(Professor Jon Tonge argues if the Ulster Unionists attract centrist unionist voters, the DUP will no longer be the largest party in Stormont.)