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Nesbitt heralds new political era as UUP becomes Stormont's first opposition

UUP leader Mike Nesbitt (centre) said his conditions for joining the executive had not been met. Picture by David Young/PA Wire
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt (centre) said his conditions for joining the executive had not been met. Picture by David Young/PA Wire UUP leader Mike Nesbitt (centre) said his conditions for joining the executive had not been met. Picture by David Young/PA Wire

THE Ulster Unionist Party has decided not to take its seat in the Stormont executive and instead become the assembly's first formal opposition since the signing of Good Friday Agreement.

In a move made possible by former deputy leader John McCallister's private members bill, Mike Nesbitt has decided his party's interests are best served outside of government.

The Ulster Unionist leader's surprise announcement upstaged the re-appointment of Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness as first minister and deputy first minister in the first plenary of the new assembly mandate.

Pressure on the SDLP to join the UUP on the opposition benches is expected mount over the coming days, though yesterday leader Colum Eastwood said he would only make a decision when the forthcoming programme for government negotiations had concluded in two weeks' time.

Mr Nesbitt said he had decided not to join the new slimline Stormont executive because the conditions he laid down about the executive's five-year policy plan had not been met.

The former UTV news anchorman had called for a "progressive" programme for government alongside a commitment from the main parties to work collectively. He said neither had materialised.

The UUP leader said an assessment by police chiefs that structures of the Provisional IRA remain in place also did not make a return to power with Sinn Féin an attractive option.

He said his party's 16-strong assembly group had voted unanimously to form an opposition.

"This heralds a new era for devolved politics at Stormont, and a big, bold step forward to normal democracy for Northern Ireland," Mr Nesbitt said.

Mr McGuinness accused the UUP leader of a lack of leadership, claiming he had "repudiated" the UUP's Good Friday Agreement legacy.

"I find that deeply disappointing," he said.

"I do think rather than being seen as leadership it will be seen as a lack of leadership, it will be seen as a lack of the Ulster Unionist Party's ability to accept the democratically expressed wishes of the people who have charged both the DUP and Sinn Fein with responsibility to lead this administration forward."

DUP MLA Paul Givan said the Ulster Unionists had been rejected by the electorate.

"With Mike under internal pressure he is now running into opposition having lost the election," he said.

"Whilst others have run away, the DUP, as the leaders of unionism will get on with the business of government."

Thanks to Mr McCallister's opposition bill, which was passed by the assembly earlier this year, the UUP will have additional speaking rights in the chamber and be able to table opposition day debates. The party will also fill some key scrutiny committee roles and have access to funded research services.

Alliance leader David Ford accused Mr Nesbitt of "grandstanding".

"Whether in opposition or not, today's move by the UUP shows Mr Nesbitt clearly makes decisions based on where he can best be seen, as opposed to what can best help the people of Northern Ireland," he said.

Alliance is widely expected to take the executive's justice ministry again if offered by the DUP and Sinn Féin.

Mr Eastwood said the SDLP would bide its time.

"Mike Nesbitt will do what Mike Nesbitt will do – he has a mandate for the Ulster Unionist Party, I have a mandate for the SDLP's position, which was always to negotiate hard to try to achieve a programme for government that we can all sign up to," hew said.

The UUP left the executive last autumn in amid the crisis in the institutions sparked by the murder of Kevin McGuigan in Belfast's Short Strand which the chief constable linked to the Provisional IRA.