The Ulster Unionist Party has seen a decline in popularity over the years and has found difficulty keeping hold of Assembly and parliamentary seats.

Former leader Robin Swann is the only MP for the party.

Currently the party have 10 MLA’s in the Stormont Assembly.

The only candidate who has so far declared an interest in becoming leader of the UUP is former leader Mike Nesbitt.

The UUP found itself without a leader last week after Doug Beattie stepped down, citing “irreconcilable differences” with party officers.

Mr Nesbitt won a contest in 2012 to become leader, but quit in 2017 after disappointing assembly election results.

If Mr Nesbitt is selected to become the leader, he will be the first person to have twice held the top job in the UUP.

Image source, UUP

Gareth Gordon
BBC News NI Political Correspondent

Mike Nesbitt is the only name I’ve heard for the UUP.

I very much doubt there will be anybody else in the frame.

It’s important that he gets as many of the other MLAs and party officers in the UUP as possible to support him.

He would love to have Doug Beattie's support and councillor Kate Evans who works in Doug's office.

Mike would say the priority is to stabilise the party, a party which I understand he doesn't think is that unstable, but it would give him a boost if he had support from the heavyweights.

Nominations to become the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party are set to close at 4.30pm

We’re expecting to hear from Mike Nesbitt, who is understood to be the only member of the party to put his name forward for selection.