THE UUP's only declared leadership candidate has said the UK remaining in the EU would be "the best thing" for Northern Ireland.
South Antrim assembly member Steven Aiken, who is the party's finance spokesman, told BBC Radio Ulster the new deal is a "bad" one.
"This has been a disaster for Northern Ireland, the only way we can really get out of this is to stay," he said.
"For people in Northern Ireland it is very clear - Boris Johnson's deal is bad for us, the best thing for us in many respects is to stay in."
The UUP campaigned for Remain during the 2016 referendum.
Afterwards it has taken the position that the vote to leave had to be respected.
