Doug Beattie

Doug Beattie
18th Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
In office
27 May 2021 – 28 September 2024
DeputyRobbie Butler
Preceded bySteve Aiken
Succeeded byMike Nesbitt
Ulster Unionist Party spokesperson for Justice
Assumed office
24 May 2021
LeaderHimself
Mike Nesbitt
Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Upper Bann
Assumed office
5 May 2016
Preceded bySam Gardiner
Member of the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
In office
22 May 2014 – 5 May 2016
Preceded byCouncil created
Succeeded byJulie Flaherty
ConstituencyPortadown
Personal details
Born
Douglas Ricardo Beattie

(1965-10-13) 13 October 1965 (age 59)
Hampshire, England[1]
Political partyUlster Unionist Party
SpouseMargaret Beattie
ChildrenLuke
Leigh
Residence(s)Portadown, County Armagh
Alma materRoyal Military College, Sandhurst
Profession
  • Soldier
  • politician
WebsiteOfficial website
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service British Army
Years of service1982–2016 (regular)
2016–present (reserves)
RankCaptain
UnitRoyal Irish Regiment
Battles/warsThe Troubles
Kosovo War
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsMilitary Cross
Queen's Commendation for Bravery
NATO Meritorious Service Medal

Douglas Ricardo Beattie MC MLA (born 13 October 1965) is a Northern Irish politician and former member of the British Army,[2] who was leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) between 27 May 2021 and 28 September 2024. He has been a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann since 2016. He is characterised as a 'progressive' and 'liberal' unionist.

  1. ^ McNeilly, Claire (26 March 2018). "Doug Beattie: 'Not once did my dad tell me he loved me. But on his deathbed he handed me a little note..." belfasttelegraph. Retrieved 18 January 2022. You were born in barracks in Hampshire, in 1965
  2. ^ "Top UUP figures: we still believe in liberal unionism". www.newsletter.co.uk. News Letter. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2022. Even I myself have always classed myself as being Irish, Northern Irish and British, but a proud unionist.