He said there was a “difference between being swift and being hasty” as he defended being unable to yet announce Nesbitt’s successor following his resignation.

“As I listened to the evidence around the Causeway it became clear to me that the evidence base was not made out.”

Burrows refused to talk about possible new ministers but said he would “make that decision overnight” and, was asked if he has ruled himself out for the health brief, which he refused to do.

“You will find out like every other journalist and the public when we announce who the new health minister will be. I’m not going to speculate,” he answered.

He said that Nesbitt had “served with compassion and with dignity” and that he is willing to speak to him “one on one”.

The UUP leader said his party was one that is “going through change”.

“I said that on day one, things are going to change, we need to reconnect with the public.”

“This place has failed to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland,” he said, adding: “We need a circuit break in our politics.”

“The relentless focus of my party and the health minister will be in slashing the access times to the NHS,” he said.

Burrows added that his party would have “absolute rigorous focus on faster access” to healthcare services.

While refusing to be drawn on who would take on the role, Burrows said his remarks were not about “auditioning myself to be health minister”.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Burrows said he was “not opposed to reform of the health service” but added: “Because a proposal has the label reform doesn’t make the proposal correct.”

Another ex-leader Doug Beattie quit the UUP in May, lashing out at Burrows’ leadership.

It is unclear whether Nesbitt will follow suit and quit the party as well as resigning his ministry.