Doug Beattie Faces Political Challenge
Doug Beattie, former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and a soldier, is confronting a significant challenge regarding his political career. He is anticipated to be deselected by his Upper Bann constituency association during their June meeting, where the candidate for the forthcoming Northern Ireland Assembly election will be chosen.
If deselected, Beattie plans to contest the May 2027 election either as an independent candidate or representing another political party.
A source close to Beattie indicated that his potential removal stems from perceptions of him being too moderate within the party.
Beattie's Political Background
Beattie has served as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly since 2016. In 2021, he was appointed leader of the UUP, a position he held until his resignation in 2024.
Following his anticipated deselection, Kyle Savage, a councillor from the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, is expected to replace Beattie as the UUP candidate for Upper Bann.
Other Assembly Members Facing Deselection
It has also been reported that Alan Chambers, another of the party's nine MLAs, has been advised not to seek re-selection when his North Down constituency association convenes soon to select its candidate.
Similar to Beattie, Chambers is understood to be considering running as an independent if necessary. At 77 years old, Chambers holds the distinction of being the Father of the House, as the oldest among the 90 MLAs first elected in 2016.
"Alan is stubborn and won't give up without a fight."
Leadership and Internal Party Dynamics
When Beattie assumed leadership of the UUP in May 2021, he pledged to create a "Union of People," which briefly resulted in what was termed the "Beattie Bounce" for the party.
However, internal conflicts arose, leading to his resignation as leader in September 2024. He cited "irreconcilable differences" with party officers related to his involvement in a dispute over the selection of a new assembly member in North Antrim.
Beattie was succeeded by Mike Nesbitt, and the current party leader is Jon Burrows, a former police officer.
Beattie is credited with bringing Burrows into the party, although their relationship is no longer considered close.
A recent Lucid Talk opinion poll indicates that Burrows is currently the most popular unionist party leader. He is believed to enjoy broad support among party members, having faced no opposition in his leadership appointment.
Despite this, relations between Burrows and some members of the assembly team are reportedly strained.
There was controversy surrounding a recent video posted on the party's X social media platform, in which Burrows stood in front of Stormont's Parliament Buildings and stated:
"People deserve better. For too long the people in here have delivered for themselves and not for the people of Northern Ireland."
One source expressed dissatisfaction with the video, saying:
"He could have at least said some parties differentiating between his own party and some of the others."
Burrows was reportedly asked to remove the video but declined to do so.
Candidate Selection Process and Party Sentiment
While candidate selections at the constituency level require ratification by Burrows, the BBC has been informed that he will not interfere in these decisions.
The party declined to comment on these matters.
Another source described the atmosphere within the party as one of "widespread antagonism" towards the Stormont team.
Doug Beattie appears poised to become the first prominent figure to be affected by these internal disputes.
Party Response
When approached for comment regarding the selection issues, an Ulster Unionist spokesperson stated:
"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."
