Mike Nesbitt is to stand down as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.

He informed assembly members (MLAs) and party officers on Friday morning.

Speaking to BBC News NI on Friday, Nesbitt said he had taken the decision to ensure his successor had a “reasonable amount of time” to bed in and fight the next assembly election.

He said his decision to come back as leader for a second time had always been a “short-term” plan and that doing the role of health minister and party leader into the election would have “become too much of an ask”.

He insisted he has “no preference” about who should succeed him as leader.

Nesbitt also said he is “keen to stay on” as health minister but that it will be in the gift of whoever replaces him.

In a statement, he said: “The next five-year mandate stretches to May 2032, the month I hope to celebrate my 75th birthday. That’s a commitment to full-time politics I just do not feel I can make.”

He added: “I would not be comfortably seeking a vote knowing that privately I was intending to retire during the mandate.”

Nesbitt added he retook the leadership to do the “short-term job of getting the party match fit” for the forthcoming election.

“That job is now done so the time is right to select the politician who will lead us into the May 2027 polls promoting our brand of confident, responsible unionism.”

Nesbitt has been UUP leader since August 2024 and it was his second stint in the role.

He won the contest in 2012, but quit in 2017 after disappointing assembly election results.

Since then, Robin Swann, Steve Aiken, Doug Beattie and Nesbitt again have been handed the leadership unopposed with no noticeable upturn in the once-mighty party’s fortunes.

A party spokesperson described Nesbitt’s decision to step down as a “pivotal moment”.

“Party officers will shortly outline the leadership selection process, ensuring an inclusive, engaging and seamless transition.”

Speculation on who might follow will now fall on two characters who could hardly contrast more.

The deputy leader, Robbie Butler, is from the liberal wing of the party. He was brought into politics by Nesbitt during his first tenure as leader and studiously avoids controversy.

Jon Burrows on the other hand seems to positively relish it.

The former police officer has only been an MLA since July when he was co-opted to replace Colin Crawford in North Antrim but he has made up for lost time with frequent and often controversial statements on a wide range of issues.

If both men decide to go for the job it would mean the first leadership contest in the UUP since 2012 when Nesbitt triumphed over John McCallister.

Nesbitt probably found reviving the party while running the health department one impossible job too many

He said several months ago that he would decide by January at the latest “in fairness to whoever might be coming in”.

He will hope the new leader acquiesces to his plea to be allowed to remain in the job until next May.

Like his predecessor in the UUP hot seat Doug Beattie, he was a progressive leader.

Robbie Butler would represent a continuation of that trend.

But Jon Burrows is much more of an unknown quantity.

In the world of the Ulster Unionist Party it is one never ending game of Follow The Leader.

If the ever lengthening list of ex-UUP leaders couldn’t mount a comeback what chance do they have?

Both Butler and Burrows have paid tribute to their outgoing leader on social media.

Butler thanked Nesbitt for his “leadership and service to modern and positive unionism and vision to make Northern Ireland work for everyone”.

“It was your brand of unionism that convinced me to pack up my career fighting fires and climbing ladders and to help build a better NI through politics.

“It’s been a pleasure and I look forward to working closely with you in the coming months and year,” the UUP deputy leader added.

Burrows wrote: “Mike Nesbitt welcomed me into the Ulster Unionist Party and will always have my admiration.

“He stepped up to party leadership again at a difficult time, while holding one of the most demanding ministries.

“Selfless, service-driven and stable leadership, for which he has my respect.”