In a surprise move, UUP leader Mike Nesbitt has been appointed as the new Health Minister of Northern Ireland. This appointment comes after Robin Swann stepped down to run in the upcoming UK general election. Nesbitt, who has been serving as the UUP assembly member for Strangford since 2011 and was party leader from 2012 to 2017, has also held the position of Health Minister during the Covid-19 pandemic and resumed it when devolution was restored in February.
Doug Beattie, the current UUP leader, had indicated that Nesbitt would be stepping into Swann’s role due to his experience and background in the party. Steve Aiken, the UUP Finance Spokesperson and former party leader, expressed confidence in Nesbitt’s abilities as the new Health Minister, describing him as the best candidate for the job.
Aiken raised concerns about the rush to pass the budget without fully reviewing the additional funding expected from the June monitoring round. He emphasized the need for further information on this matter and announced plans to address it at a meeting of Northern Ireland Assembly’s finance committee. Aiken criticized the process, suggesting that all parties should collaborate to examine extra funding available and come to an informed decision before finalizing
