Mike Nesbitt's 'common sense' vision is one we need more of

Mike Nesbitt addressing his party conference
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


As the Ulster Unionist Party gathered at the Crowne Plaza in South Belfast for their annual conference, their leader-in-waiting was stuck at home after he was struck down with Covid-19 earlier this week. However, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, Mike Nesbitt appeared virtually at the conference where he accepted the role of leader for a second time and addressed the party faithful.

Nesbitt had been due to formally take on the role a fortnight ago before being his appointment was rescheduled to coincide with their annual gathering. Given that he was not physically present to accept the appointment, delegates had been told that his appointment would be delayed once again for a few weeks before a motion from the conference floor was passed allowing him to be appointed to the role in absentia.

Throughout his address, Mike Nesbitt spoke with a sense of pragmatism that is often missing from political discourse in Northern Ireland. Having begun his working life as a binman during his student days, Mike Nesbitt certainly wasn't talking rubbish when he called for a "common sense" approach to politics in Northern Ireland.

Read more: "Unionism is progressive, is modern and is visionary"-Robbie Butler says UUP have 'quite ambitious plans for electoral success'

Read more: Diana Armstrong becomes first female UUP MLA since 2022

Too often, we have seen what happens when parties become entrenched in their views and it is the public who bear the brunt when compromise is confused with appeasement. Acknowledging this, Mike Nesbitt, described how the UUP, under his leadership, will continue to offer "a relaxed, confident and inclusive unionism" but also said that he will show "an unbending resolve when required." This balance is crucial for a party that has, in recent elections, faced challenges amid evolving societal demands.

It has often been said that Mike's previous tenure as leader of the UUP was ahead of its time and it is yet to be seen if the electorate is ready for a unionist party that understands, as Mike Nesbitt put it, the "need to do more than wrap ourselves in the Union Flag and sing God Save the King."

While Mike made reference to the late David Trimble, John Hume and how the Troubles impacted his family, this address was not about looking back to rehearse past grievances. Instead, it was focused on the future, on "today and tomorrow." This forward-looking perspective is exactly what unionism and indeed, Northern Ireland needs at a time when political division continues to linger and many people, particularly the younger generation, are asking what the future holds for them.

Perhaps one of the strongest elements of Mike Nesbitt's speech was his emphasis on the "prosperity agenda". Nesbitt's notion of prosperity goes far beyond that of economics; It's a comprehensive vision that encompasses financial security, access to world-class public services and the nurturing of individual talents, particularly through education. His message is clear: the union will not be secured by grand and symbolic gestures, but by focusing on improving the lives of everyday citizens.

It is no surprise that, as Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt dedicated a considerable amount of time setting out how he plans to transform our healthcare system, starting with inviting Professor Bengoa back to Northern Ireland next month to reboot the transformative report he delivered in 2016.

Reigniting that report will require substantial buy-in from other parties and an end to parish pump politics which has seen some parties publically endorse the report while their representatives speak openly in opposition to aspects of it which may see services moved from their local communities.

Mike Nesbitt has taken flak in recent weeks for the current public consultation on the proposed Public Health Bill which he also addressed in his speech, setting out how he believes that the proposal has been subjected to disinformation but encouraging everyone to have their say in the consultation.

Nesbitt also recognises that Stormont departments must act cohesively and can no longer operate in silos. Ministers have previously been accused of operating their departments like fiefdoms which has created barriers to effective governance and the current Health Minister understands that if he is to truly improve the health outcomes of people, it needs a cross-departmental approach.

This also factors in the need to keep the institutions at Stormont up and running. As Mike said in his speech, "if Stormont collapses again, it is gone for good," and "we should do all we can to protect [devolution] and allow it to thrive."

Mike Nesbitt was also the leader of the UUP when they voted to advocate to remain in the EU during the Brexit referendum. As he finished his conference address, he referred to that party meeting in 2016 where he told party members that Brexit may deliver for GB, but that it would be bad for Northern Ireland, an insight that has proven prescient.

As he takes up the mantle of leading the UUP for a second time, the road ahead will be no doubt fraught with challenges. However, with pragmatism at the helm, Mike Nesbitt could be on the cusp of breathing fresh life into the UUP and Northern Irish politics, if he is given the time and space to do so.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our politics newsletter here.