Doug Beattie has resigned as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).

In a statement, he cited “irreconcilable differences” between him and party officers.

Mr Beattie took over as leader of the party in May 2021.

It is understood there have been internal tensions over his role in recent weeks.

After several difficult electoral performances, the party regained a seat at Westminster in July’s general election.

It is believed that the tensions are linked to the selection of Colin Crawford as the party’s new North Antrim MLA last month.

He replaced Robin Swann when he was elected MP for South Antrim.

In his statement, Mr Beattie said leading the party had been an honour and said there had been “small successes on the back of difficult electoral results with a lot of work still to do”.

“It is now clear that some believe the momentum needed to keep the Ulster Unionist Party moving in the right direction cannot come from me,” he said.

“Irreconcilable differences between myself and Party Officers combined with the inability to influence and shape the party going forward means that I can no longer remain the party leader.”

He said the UUP would immediately begin the process of selecting a new leader.

The UUP has had three leaders – including Mr Beattie – since Mike Nesbitt resigned in the aftermath of the 2017 assembly election.

Mr Beattie added in his statement that leading the UUP had been at times “lonely and isolating”.

“I am no stranger to leadership and that is how it often feels in taking a toll both physically and mentally,” he said.

“It also strains friendships and political relationships.”

He said that while many colleagues had shown “loyalty and support” there were others who “did not agree with the direction and path I set for the party and the vision I promoted”.

Mr Beattie took over as leader of the UUP in May 2021.

The party has experienced a tough time in elections since it was surpassed by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) at the Stormont poll in 2003 and the Westminster election of 2005.

But in the months following Mr Beattie’s election as leader, the UUP overtook the DUP in opinion polls.

The “Beattie bounce” did not last and the UUP subsequently had challenging local and assembly polls, although it did win a seat in the House of Commons in the 2024 general election.

Mr Beattie was born on an Army base in Hampshire and later became a soldier.

In 2005 he was commissioned as an officer at the rank of captain and served three tours of duty in Afghanistan.

For his actions in fierce fighting over several days in September 2006 he was awarded the Military Cross – the third-highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.