UUP to decide on the future of leader Doug Beattie
Last updated 25th Jan 2022
Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie has said he will ask colleagues whether he should resign amid a controversy over historical tweets.
Mr Beattie has faced accusations of misogyny and racism over the content of tweets posted before he entered political life.
The Upper Bann MLA conceded the posts were "horrendous and horrific".
Defamation proceedings have also been issued against the UUP leader over his tweet about the DUP minister Edwin Poots' wife Glynis.
Proceedings have also been initiated against Conservative MP and chair of Westminster's Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Simon Hoare, who retweeted Mr Beattie's joke.
Patrick Higgins, from Donnelly and Wall solicitors in Belfast, told the PA news agency that letters had been sent to both men seeking remedies for their actions.
"Today we instigated proceedings on behalf of Mrs and Mr Poots against Mr Beattie MLA and Mr Hoare MP, who published this tweet," he said.
"This post constitutes a grave and unwarranted attack on my clients' reputation.
"As a couple of 36 years, married for 33, it has caused my clients profound distress.
"As a lady who has recently retired after dedicating her life as a nurse to caring for terminally ill children, it is wholly inappropriate for any persons to make such comments and the publication has caused immense hurt to her, her husband and their family."
Mr Beattie apologised for the tweet that referenced Mrs Poots and historical tweets that were discovered.
He told BBC Radio Ulster: "I will speak to my MLA group today and I will speak to my party officers. If either group feels I should step down, then I will.
"Likewise, if they think I should refer myself to the party executive or the wider council on a vote of no confidence then I shall do that as well."
Mr Beattie denied being racist or misogynistic.
The former soldier suggested the "dark and black humour" he used may have been a "coping" mechanism and reflective of him being "desensitised" by battlefield experiences.
"My mental health has been affected by what I have seen and what I have done," he said.
Mr Beattie insisted he is not using that potential explanation as an "excuse" for his tweets.