Doug Beattie confirms he's standing in UUP leadership bid

Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie has confirmed that he will stand as a candidate to become the next leader of the party.

He paid tribute to outgoing leader Steve Aiken as showing moral courage in his decision to resign.

"I now want to make my intentions known in that I will be standing for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party,'' Mr Beattie said.

"I do so knowing that we, as a party and as a country, face some very real challenges today and in the future.

"It is not enough to sit back in defence of the Union, it is time to reach out to promote the Union and all its benefits. In doing so we can make Northern Ireland a place where people want to live, regardless of identity, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity.

"I want to build a union of people where everyone feels comfortable being who they want to be with a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose.

"I want to represent a pro-union politics that offers a modern, progressive vision for the future of the UK. I want to build a Northern Ireland where everyone is able to enjoy a true peace and its benefits, not just the absence of violence.''