Doug Beattie: UUP leader says change needed to Stormont system

The system of mandatory five-party coalition at Stormont "no longer delivers good government" and must be changed, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has said.

Doug Beattie told his party's annual conference that Stormont has "become dysfunctional and people are angry".

He made the remarks in his first party conference speech as UUP leader.

He called for a "working power-sharing government" where the electorate can vote out those not up to the role.

Unlike the rest of the UK, devolved government in Northern Ireland is based on a power-sharing agreement which means any ruling coalition must have representatives of both the unionist and nationalist communities.

The current coalition includes Mr Beattie's party as well as the Democratic Unionist Party, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance.

"Mandatory coalition and other measures, that were supposed to be about minority protection, have been used and abused for the purpose of frustrating the executive and the assembly," the UUP leader said.

"There have been some pitiful outcomes and mutual veto rather than delivery and power sharing.

"We need to create a working power-sharing government with a working power-sharing opposition to hold them to account.

"This will put the electorate in the driving seat and allow them to vote out those not up to the role and vote in those with a better vison for the future."

• Watch: Doug Beattie's speech in full

Mr Beattie also called for changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement, which he said was putting the Good Friday Agreement under threat.

He reminded delegates of the party's role in negotiating and securing the 1998 peace deal and accused his political opponents of being "distracted by champagne receptions" while his party warned about the dangers of the protocol two years ago.

'Vaccine lies'

Earlier his party colleague Robin Swan, who is Northern Ireland's health minister, used his conference speech to warn that those spreading "misinformation and lies" about Covid vaccines were putting lives at risk.

Mr Swann also criticised the EU over the protocol and the potential impact on medical supplies.

This was the first real stress test for Doug Beattie's new plan to stretch the Ulster Unionists beyond their comfort zone.

It was mission accomplished for the former soldier.

The Beattie brand was an easy sell to delegates who were cheering their fourth leader in four years.

Buoyed by positive opinion polls and a DUP still in recovery mode, the party is daring to dream.

In Doug Beattie they see a leader who has a strategy to broaden the base, but how far can he push?

Some of the most socially liberal within Northern Ireland are found within unionism, he told the conference

But there remains some of the most socially conservative within his own party.

Moving too far, too soon from those supporters could be costly.

The true stress test for the new Beattie brand of unionism will come when the electorate pass their verdict.

Strict Covid rules were in place for the event at a Belfast hotel.

Those attending were required to show proof of a double vaccination or negative tests.

Robin Swann has criticised those who are unvaccinated against Covid-19

Inside, the audience was socially-distanced and asked to wear face coverings.

Mr Swann, a former UUP leader, praised the health service response to the Covid pandemic but also criticised those sceptical about vaccines.

He said three-quarters of the adult Covid inpatients under 50 were unvaccinated, with unvaccinated individuals aged 50 and over being five times as likely to be admitted to hospital than fully-vaccinated people.

"Unfortunately, whilst we have seen so many people work so hard on our vaccination effort, there have been a small minority - a tiny minority - that are determined to spread misinformation and lies," he said.

"Whilst I absolutely appreciate there are genuine cases of vaccine hesitancy - and I and my department will continue to have those engagements and provide whatever information or reassurance is necessary - unfortunately there others who chose not to accept the truth and seem set on putting the health and wellbeing of fellow citizens at risk."

His party leader has vowed to crack down on any elected member who expresses anti-vaccine views in public.

In a novel approach for a unionist party, they invited a group of Irish dancers to perform at the event.

The Royal Tara Dance Academy, which describes itself as "one of the province's well known cross-community Irish dancing schools" took to the stage in the build up to the leader's speech.

There were also tributes to John and Pat Hume during a speech by Conservative Party MP Tom Tugenhadt.

Mr Hume, a former leader of the SDLP who won the Nobel Peace Prize, died in 2020 and his wife Pat passed away in September.

What is the protocol?

The protocol avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland by keeping Northern Ireland in the EU's single market for goods.

But unionists argue it creates a trade border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

They say it undermines Northern Ireland's constitutional position as part of the UK.

"The Ulster Unionist Party warned on the protocol as far back as 2019 while others with influence were distracted by champagne receptions" Mr Beattie said.

• EU to table new proposals for NI Protocol

• What is the Northern Ireland protocol?

He also warned about the potential fall out if the protocol remains unchanged.

"Amongst many issues the protocol has a built-in instability that will raise tensions every time we have an election as articles five to 10 are voted on every 4 years.

"From a sectarian headcount we are about to begin a protocol headcount which will take precedence over all other issues.

"The protocol must be replaced with a treaty that works for all the people of this island.

This means no trading borders north-south or east-west. There cannot be a border in the Irish Sea."

You can watch Doug Beattie's speech here.