Basil McCrea to back McCallister for party leadership

LAGAN Valley UUP MLA Basil McCrea has told the BBC he will not be seeking the leadership of his party.

Mr McCrea, who stood against Tom Elliott for the leadership in 2010, said he would be backing South Down MLA John McCallister to be the next person to lead the Ulster Unionist Party.

The UUP assembly group deputy leader declared his intention to stand in the contest to replace Mr Elliott as party leader on Tuesday and made it clear that if elected he would pull the party out of the Executive.

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Mr McCrea said the party needed to consider its future, get clear blue water between it and its electoral opponents and offer the people of Northern Ireland something different.

It is thought Regional Development Minister, Danny Kennedy, will also contest the leadership.

Candidates have until Friday to hand in their nomination papers, with the leadership election due on 31 March.

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