Stormont Assembly member Doug Beattie, a decorated British army veteran, has confirmed he will stand for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party. But neither do I want a border in the Irish Sea,” Mr Beattie told BBC Northern Ireland. As he announced his resignation at a press conference in Stormont, Mr Aiken said he was “aware of his limitations”. He was flanked by party chairman Danny Kennedy, as well as Mr Beattie and Robbie Butler MLA, another person tipped to succeed him. He said the UUP had delivered for the people of Northern Ireland but that, despite its strengths, he was “self-aware enough” to realise the UUP was “not breaking through”.

Source: The Irish Times May 10, 2021 10:39 UTC