Mike Nesbitt is to become the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
Nominations closed at 16:30 BST
The party has confirmed that only one name was put forwar for consideration
He won a contest in 2012 to become leader, but quit in 2017 after disappointing assembly election results
Once ratified, he will be the first person to have twice held the top job in the UUP
Image source, PA MediaThank you for joining us for our live coverage of the announcement of the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.
Mike Nesbitt will be formally ratified in the role on 14 September.
You can keep up to date with the story here.
The live page today was edited by Rebekah Logan with additional reporting by Matt Fox and Rebekah Wilson
On the nomination, Mr Butler says Mike Nesbitt has "widespread support" within the party.
"We have a system for doing that, and there was absolutely no problem in terms of Mike receiving that backing," he says.
On the airing of dirty laundry, Mr Butler says it is a "snapshot in time," adding that he shares in Mr Nesbitt's frustrations.
"Those sort of things happen in all parties and certainly need to be managed internally," he says.
"It's part of my role, I suppose, as the current chief whip... I'll find out next week, I suppose, whether I'm still going to be chief whip or not."
He says those within the party that are prone to leaking stories are "marking their character".
Julie-Ann Corr-Johnston, former councillor who was then enticed to join the UUP by Doug Beattie and has left the party due to his resignation, says she had stood for Mike Nesbit in 2019:
"(I have) much respect—for Mike Nesbitt back in 2019 when the party was undergoing a leadership contest, I had reached out to him to stand," adding the enthusiasm she would have had at the time.
"Any enthusiasm I have now at this moment in time has been tainted by the manner in which this has all come about."
She adds, "The dethroning of what was a very exciting turn in the direction of travel for the Ulster unionist party in Doug Beattie—the party at this point is at a crossroad—it needs to commit to a direction of travel, and taking that familiar route has repeatedly reached an electoral decline."
We're now hearing from the UUP's deputy leader, Robbie Butler.
He had been mentioned as a possible candidate for party leader before endorsing Mike Nesbitt earlier this week.
He praises Doug Beattie's leadership for "some success in Westminster" but says it is the party's ambition to see a greater performance at elections.
Mr Butler says it is worth remembering that himself, Mr Beattie, and other senior party members joined the UUP under Mr Nesbitt's previous leadership.
"Mike perhaps feels like there's some unfinished business," he tells BBC's Evening Extra programme.
"He's certainly got the energy and the vision to help bring that electoral success that we need."
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Image source, PA MediaThe incoming Ulster Unionist leader has had a varied career.
He was previously a broadcaster before taking over the helm of the UUP in 2012, when Tom Elliott stood down after 18 months as leader.
Born in 1957 in Belfast, he attended Campbell College and ran 400 metres hurdles for an Irish Schools athletics team.
He became a sports presenter at the BBC and anchored the station’s flagship Good Morning Ulster radio programme and then presented UTV’s evening news for 10 years.
In 2008, he was appointed Victims' Commissioner, a role designed to promote the interests of victims of the Troubles.
However, he left the commission when he joined the Ulster Unionists in 2010.
Mr Nesbitt was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2011 as a representative for Strangford before becoming leader of the party.
He resigned in 2017 after the UUP had a poor election performance but remained the MLA for Strangford.
He is currently the health minister.
The final question has been put to Mike Nesbitt: Will we see "vote Mike, get Claire"? A nod to the campaign slogan from seven years ago, “Vote Mike, get Colum”.
"I think you'll find that that ship sailed a very, very long time ago."
BBC News NI's Gareth Gordon asks: Is Mr Nesbitt still considering standing down at the next assembly election?
In February, he was content to "be cruising" on the backbenches and heading towards retirement in 2027, Mr Nesbitt replies.
"A lot of events have fallen my way," he says. "It's far too early to be thinking about what I'm going to do come 2027."
So he might stay on?
"Yes, absolutely."
The UUP have just released a statement confirming that only one name was put forward in the nominations for leadership.
A 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.”
Mr Nesbitt is asked what he wants to see from the party now:
"I want to continue on the progressive outreach that Doug started, but I know in a certain way Doug was following on from my lead from 2012 to 2017.
"I would like to offer people a unionist party that is a bit more relaxed that is a bit more confident that is outreaching and embracing a bit more inclusive."
He continues by saying people should be living a better quality of life and vote for that:
"I think if people are earning good money, having their children well educated, and having a good quality of life—then that's what any politician should be aiming for.
"If you're delivering that for people who's going to say I tell you what I want to vote for change and the uncertainty associated with that, they'll say, 'I tell you what gives me more of the same.'"
Mike Nesbitt says he will not downgrade his involvement in the health ministry.
"I am energised by, and motivated by, being the health minister," he says.
"I think we are now very close to finalising the plan for the rest of the mandate."
Mr Nesbitt adds there are plans to meet with Prof Rafael Bengoa, who led a a review of Northern Ireland's healthcare system in 2016, and this will be "the kickstart" to what he intends to do until 2027.
Mr Nesbitt has been asked what lessons were learned during his first time in charge that may influence his second term.
"Not to wash dirty linen in public," he replies.
Mr Nesbitt is asked how he intends to manage party leadership alongside his role as health minister.
He says that as minister, there are very few tasks that he "can or indeed should" delegate to others for action.
However, as UUP leader, there are "many, many, many things" that a party leader can delegate to others, "and that's the way it will be," he says.
"I will be looking to senior colleagues to form a leadership team, and we will divide up all the responsibilities and all the actions accordingly."
Once ratified, Mike Nesbitt will become the first in the party to take the role for a second time.
A reporter asks if it's a mistake to go back?
"Well, let's see what happens. I'm more than happy to go back into the role - I didn't know what I was getting myself in for in 2012 but I am confident that I can do the job.
Asked if Doug Beattie had backed his nomination, Mr Nesbitt said:
"I'm not going to discuss Doug; there is a long-standing tradition in our party that an outgoing leader does not try and influence the decision of the party as to who is the successor."
Speaking about the current state of the UUP, Mr Nesbitt says it "looks like what has happened is a badly split party."
"I don't believe that, but I accept that we have fed the narrative by washing our dirty linen in public—that's not a very attractive look for the electorate to have."
He says that now there needs to be a break until next week:
"We need to relax a bit over the weekend and come back as the assembly is set to return."
Mike Nesbitt has started speaking.
He says he can “confirm as the collector of challenging roles” he has added to his portfolio, “subject, of course, to ratification by the [party] executive on the 14th of next month”.
He pays tribute to former leader Doug Beattie, and says when he became leader last time Mr Beattie’s name “was the first on the list of the people I wanted to attract into the party”.
“I thank him for his service and I look forward to working with him, going into the future,” he says.
Nominations to become the leader of the UUP have closed.
Mike Nesbitt is expected to speak to members of the media at a news conference shortly.
You can watch live by clicking play at the top of this page.
Image source, PA MediaOn 19 August the UUP leader resigned.
In a statement, he cited “irreconcilable differences” between him and party officers.
Doug Beattie took over as leader of the party in May 2021.
It is understood there have been internal tensions over his role in recent weeks linked to the selection of Colin Crawford as the party’s new North Antrim assembly member.
Since 2010, there have been 5 leaders of the UUP:
A former soldier in the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) and the Royal Irish Regiment, Mr Elliot became UUP Leader in 2010 and is currently the Deputy Chief Whip and party spokesperson for Agriculture and Environment. He was appointed to the House of Lords in May.
He was previously a broadcaster at the BBC and UTV before becoming leader of the UUP in 2012. He is currently the health minister.
He began his political career as an MLA for North Antrim in 2011, became leader in 2017, and has been the health minister twice, from 2020-2022 and from February 2024 until October 2024. He became an MP in the 2024 election.
A former submariner in the Royal Navy, Mr Aiken became leader in 2019 with three years experience as a MLA. He is currently the deputy speaker at Stormont.
A former soldier in the Royal Irish Rangers, Mr Beattie joined the UUP as a councillor after retiring from the army in 2014 and became leader in 2021.
Image source, PA Media