Nesbitt elected new UUP leader

A former television presenter has become the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.

Married father-of-four Mike Nesbitt, 54, was elected by a ballot of party members in Belfast. He defeated rival John McCallister following a fiercely-fought leadership battle which revolved around whether to take the UUP into opposition at Stormont.

Mr Nesbitt pledged to instil a new spirit among people in the North.

“I want everyone in this country to get out of bed with a sense of purpose. I want this party to wake up with a sense of purpose,” he said.

“I want us to reach out to become the party of choice for every pro-union voter in Northern Ireland, including those who still say they want a United Ireland, but privately accept there is no longer a single reason not to enjoy their continued membership of the United Kingdom.”

Around 850 people attended today’s party AGM in Belfast and around 660 voted.