Nesbitt to run for UUP leadership

Is Mike Nesbitt the new comeback kid of Northern Ireland politics?

Last week, my colleague Gareth Gordon said if he had money to bet, he’d place it on Mike Nesbitt taking the UUP crown.

Not for the first time he looks on course to be proven correct, but others may wonder why Mr Nesbitt wants to have another go at leading a party that in recent days has been described by some as un-leadable.

He was already leader between 2012 and 2017, but chose to stand down after leading his party into an assembly election which delivered dismal results.

Seven years on his campaign slogan “Vote Mike get Colum” – an ill-fated attempt to promote the official opposition with the SDLP – is still memorable for the wrong reasons.

He comes from the progressive wing of the party and those who disliked Doug Beattie’s style may be just as uneasy about Mr Nesbitt’s possible return.

But his decision to run again is more likely down to there being few other options, as opposed to any long-running desire.

And he is likely to advocate for the party to reassess its structures and make tough choices in order to survive electorally.

That’s no mean feat when he already has his hands full making tough choices as health minister.