Northern Ireland

UUP has seen frequent leadership changes in last 12 years

UUP leader Doug Beattie 
UUP leader Doug Beattie  UUP leader Doug Beattie 

Doug Beattie became the Ulster Unionists' sixth leader in a dozen years when he was chosen last year.

The UUP used to have one of the most stable leaderships in Northern Ireland politics but the last decade has been marked by frequent changes and a slowly dwindling vote share.

The late James Molyneaux was leader from 1979 to 1995 during huge political upheavals including the 1981 hunger strike, the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement, the 1993 Downing Street Declaration and the first IRA ceasefire in 1994.

Lord Trimble, who led between 1995 and 2005, held on to his post during the bitter Drumcree dispute, the 1998 Omagh bombing and the lengthy IRA decommissioning process.

Lord Empey was leader from 2005 to 2010. His successor Tom Elliott lasted only two years.

Since 2010 only Mike Nesbitt has led for longer than three years. His five-year tenure was followed by that of Robin Swann, who lasted just under three years.

Steve Aiken stayed in the post for less than two years until he was replaced by Mr Beattie last May.