Mike Nesbitt MLA has been confirmed as the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).
Nominations closed at 4.30 pm on Friday and he was the only individual to submit completed nomination papers.
This will be his second time as leader of the UUP, he was in the job from 2012 until 2017.
A UUP spokesperson said: “It is my pleasure to announce that, subject to ratification by the Party on September 14th, Mike Nesbitt MLA is now deemed to be the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.”
It is thought that the Health Minister will remain in the Northern Ireland Executive whilst also taking on the leadership.
He replaces Doug Beattie, who stepped down as leader due to “irreconcilable differences” with the party officers.
Before he was involved in politics, Mike Nesbitt worked as a presenter on UTV Live and was then appointed as a Commissioner of Victims and Survivors.
He was first elected as an MLA for Strangford in the 2011 Assembly election.
With nominations closed, Mike Nesbitt MLA is now deemed Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.@mikenesbittni #makeNIwork pic.twitter.com/M9NvjE8J4q
— Ulster Unionist Party (@uuponline) August 30, 2024
