UUP leader Mike Nesbitt tests positive for Covid-19 just days before annual party conference

UUP leader and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings at Stormont
-Credit: (Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)


Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt has tested positive for Covid 19. It comes just days before Mr Nesbitt, who is also Stormont's Health Minister, is due to address his annual party conference in Belfast this weekend.

In a statement on social media, Mr Nesbitt said: “I have tested positive for Covid and will be at home recovering for the next few days. I continue to attend to ministerial business as much as possible.”

The party has said Mr Nesbitt is expected to be given the all clear in time to attend Saturday's event.

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Mr Nesbitt was named the new UUP leader last month after he was the only declared candidate when nominations closed. It came after Doug Beattie quit the role following a dispute with party officers.

The Strangford MLA, a former broadcast journalist, becomes the first person to lead the unionist party twice. He was leader between 2012 and 2017 but quit following a difficult Northern Ireland Assembly election result.

Mr Beattie cited “irreconcilable differences” with party officers as he announced his shock departure on August 19th. The Upper Bann Assembly member and decorated Army veteran was elected UUP leader in 2021.

Mr Beattie’s resignation came after what was a relatively positive General Election result for the UUP, with the party securing a Westminster seat for the first time since 2017.

However, an internal row over the process to select the Stormont Assembly replacement for the party’s new MP Robin Swann ultimately led to Mr Beattie’s resignation.

Mr Nesbit took over Mr Swann's job as Health Minister in late May when he quit to concentrate on running for a seat in the Westminster election.

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