ROBBIE Butler last night announced he will not stand for the UUP leadership and would be endorsing Doug Beattie to succeed Steve Aiken.
In a statement, the Lagan Valley MLA said it "will be my pleasure to serve under the leadership of Doug Beattie MC MLA if he indeed is elected the new leader of the UUP".
Nominations for the next leader opened yesterday and close on May 17.
The decision by the former fire-fighter means Mr Beattie is the only contender in the running to replace Mr Aiken, who formally announced his resignation on Monday.
Mr Butler said: "Whilst I have given thought to the idea of leading the party at some stage, I did not expect to be considering it this week.
"Events late last week have caused me to focus my thinking and aspirations for the future of Northern Ireland and my role within the UUP.
"It has been perhaps one of the greatest pleasures of my life to continue my 20-year public service into the political sphere and it is my intention to continue on that path for the foreseeable future; however at this stage, it will not be as the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party."
Mr Butlet said he had been "overwhelmed" by messages of encouragement and the "validation and encouragement to stand as a candidate has been truly inspiring, and isn’t wasted".
"I am even more convinced and determined that there is more that unites us than divides us, and it is in that same manner that it will be my pleasure to serve under the leadership of Doug Beattie MC MLA if he indeed is elected the new leader of the UUP."
