'It's up to him' - UUP leader Doug Beattie faces crunch talks over his future amid Twitter storm
UUP leader Doug Beattie faces critical talks with his party on Tuesday after a series of historical misogynistic and racist social media posts were uncovered.
Mr Beattie denied being racist or misogynistic saying they were not his views now and he was deeply ashamed. He said he was asking his party for a second chance.
He has said he was on the cusp of quitting, but was convinced to stay on and engage with his party.
Speaking to UTV's political editor Tracey Magee, sources in the party admitted that the Upper Bann MLA had made mistakes but they were still supportive.
When asked if Mr Beattie's time as leader was at an end, one senior member of the UUP replied: "It's up to him."
The UUP's north Belfast representative Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston and North Down candidate Naomi McBurney both came out on Tuesday to back their leader.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill branded Mr Beattie's social media posts "outrageous and totally unacceptable" in a tweet.
"There is a litany of abuse on his account & the public will make up its own mind on that.
The Sinn Féin deputy leader added: "These regressive, outdated attitudes in society must be faced down."
The Ulster Unionist leader conceded the posts, the majority written around a decade ago, were “horrendous and horrific”.
“I will speak to my MLA group today and I will speak to my party officers through my chairman Danny Kennedy and if either group feels I should step down, then I will,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.
“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 and the party will decide whether or not they can follow my leadership.”
He said he was “extremely embarrassed and extremely ashamed” about the social media posts.
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.
“I don’t want anybody to think I’m giving an excuse because I am simply not, it was wrong and I am deeply sorry,” he said.
He said he was asking his party for a second chance.
“Whether or not my party feels that I am the leader who can lead them into the election and beyond will be their decision and I will abide by that decision,” he said.
“It the party want me to stay I will still be the leader next week, if they don’t want me to stay I will not be the party leader next week.”
He added: “I am asking people to look at the person I am now and not judge me on the person I was 10 years ago.”
The furore has erupted after Mr Beattie posted a joke on Twitter on Saturday evening that referenced the wife of a political rival and a brothel.
DUP Stormont minister Edwin Poots said his wife was “disgusted” by the joke.
Mr Beattie apologised for the post and deleted it.
He reiterated that apology on the floor on the Assembly on Monday, insisting he was “truly sorry”.
However, the controversy then escalated after focus turned to Mr Beattie’s historical conduct on Twitter.
A series of derogatory messages came to light referencing women, Muslims, members of the Travelling community and people with mental health issues.
It has marked a dramatic turn of fortunes for Mr Beattie.
He posted the tweet on Saturday evening hours after a newspaper opinion poll indicated he was the most popular political leader in Northern Ireland.
He said his confidence had been rocked by the controversy and he had isolated himself from friends and loved ones.
“I have to pick myself up and come out of the shadows and face this head on,” he said.