Former UUP leader to be deselected by party

Former Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader and soldier Doug Beattie is facing another battle for his political future.

He is expected to be deselected when his Upper Bann constituency association meets in June to choose its candidate for the next Northern Ireland Assembly election.

If that happens he intends to stand for election in the May 2027 poll, either as an independent or as a member of another party.

A source close to him said he was being forced out because he was regarded as being too moderate.

Speaking on The Nolan Show, Beattie said he had put his name forward to run as a UUP candidate for Upper Bann and that he could not comment further on internal processes.

He said he hoped he would be selected as the party's candidate for the area and said party leader Jon Burrows had not stopped anyone from applying to run as a candidate.

"I have to decide where I go if I'm not selected. This is my job, this is what my family rely on and members of my staff. I'm worried about them as well," he added.

"I'm focused on getting myself selected and hopefully that will happen in the next number of months, and I can focus on winning in Upper Bann."

Beattie became a member of the assembly in 2016.

In 2021 he became the UUP's leader.

In the 2022 assembly election, he was the fourth MLA of five elected in Upper Bann. He was elected on the seventh count with 9.3% of the first preference votes.

He stepped down from party leadership in 2024.

Beattie's replacement in Upper Bann is expected to be Kyle Savage, a councillor on Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.

It is understood another of the party's nine MLAs, Alan Chambers, has been told not to put his name forward when his constituency association in North Down meets soon to select its candidate.

Like Beattie it is understood that if necessary he will also run as an independent.

At 77, Alan Chambers is Father of the House as he is the oldest of 90 MLAs first elected in 2016.

A source close to him said: "Alan is stubborn and won't give up without a fight".

When Beattie became UUP leader in May 2021 he promised a "Union of People" and the party did briefly enjoy what was referred to as "the Beattie Bounce."

But internal tensions eventually emerged and he resigned as leader in September 2024 citing "irreconcilable differences" between him and party officers over his role in a row over the selection of a new assembly member in North Antrim.

He was succeeded by Mike Nesbitt, but the party's current leader is former police officer Jon Burrows.

Beattie is credited with bringing Burrows into the party, although the two men are no longer believed to be close.

According to a recent Lucid Talk opinion poll, Burrows is now the most popular unionist party leader.

He is believed to have widespread support among the party membership, although there was no leadership election as he was unopposed.

But relations between him and some of the assembly member team are believed to be difficult.

There was anger about a recent video posted on the party's X site which featured Burrows standing in front of Stormont's Parliament Buildings in which he said: "People deserve better. For too long the people in here have delivered for themselves and not for the people of Northern Ireland."

One source said: "He could have at least said some parties differentiating between his own party and some of the others."

It is understood he was asked to delete the video but refused.

Candidate selections at constituency level have to be ratified by Burrows, but the BBC has been told he will not interfere.

The party declined to comment on that.

Another source said there was "widespread antagonism" in the party towards the Stormont team.

Now it looks like Doug Beattie is about to become the first high profile casualty.

Asked to comment on the selection issues an Ulster Unionist spokesperson said: "All candidate selection activity within the Ulster Unionist Party is governed by its rules and standing orders.

"The party appreciates that its internal procedures may, on occasion, attract outside interest.

"However, it would not be appropriate for the party to offer comment on the details of matters of this nature."