Michael Nesbitt, MLA (born 11 May 1957) is a Northern Irish politician and former broadcaster."'I could see myself getting old with Mike'" Belfast Telegraph, 29 February 2004; accessed 6 February 2009 He served as Minister of Health from 28 May 2024 until 18 August 2026. Nesbitt became Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) on 30 August 2024, following his successful candidacy in the 2024 leadership election, and left the position on 31 January 2026; he had previously served in that role from 2012 to 2017. He has been a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Strangford since 2011.
Nesbitt was appointed as the Ulster Unionist Party's Economy spokesperson by Doug Beattie and was briefly the private secretary to the Health Minister, Robin Swann, in preparation for him succeeding Swann. Following Beattie's resignation as UUP leader on 19 August 2024, Nesbitt launched a successful campaign to succeed him. In January 2026, he announced his resignation as UUP leader for the second time, leading to another leadership contest.
Broadcasting career Nesbitt worked as a sports reporter at BBC Northern Ireland and progressed to presenting Good Morning Ulster on BBC Radio Ulster from 1986 to 1990."Nesbitt quits UTV over contracts row" Belfast Telegraph, 2 February 2006, accessed 5 April 2009 Nesbitt joined UTV as a presenter and reporter in 1992, being joined by his wife Lynda Bryans to co-present evening news programme UTV Live in 1996.Lynda Bryans' profile on u.tv WebArchive.org, 11 July 2002, accessed 5 April 2009
Nesbitt and Bryans also co-presented weekly religious series Sunday Morning for Anglia Television from 1999 to 2001,Michael Nesbitt's filmography BFI Film and TV Database: accessed 5 April 2009 and two series of home and garden series Home Sweet Home for UTV."Home Sweet Home" BFI Film and TV Database: accessed 5 April 20/9
Nesbitt also hosted CounterpointMike Nesbitt's filmography BFI Film and TV Database: accessed 5 April 2009 and made a guest appearance in comedy programme Everything You Know Is Wrong in 1998.
In 2006, Nesbitt announced he was not renewing his presenting contract with UTV. His final edition of UTV Live was broadcast on 10 February 2006.UTV Live Special – Mike Nesbitt's last day UTV Today; accessed 5 April 2009
Political career
In January 2008, Nesbitt was announced as a Commissioner of Victims and Survivors,"Victims' posts details revealed" BBC News, 28 January 2008 a Northern Ireland Assembly role designed to promote the interests of victims of the Troubles.
Nesbitt resigned from the post on 17 February 2010 to become the parliamentary candidate for the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force in the constituency of Strangford."Nesbitt is UUP election candidate" BBC News, 17 February 2010, accessed 17 February 2010 He lost out to the Democratic Unionist Party's Jim Shannon in the election.Strangford: Jim Shannon keeps Iris seat for the DUP BBC News, 7 May 2010
In the 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election, Nesbitt was elected as one of six MLAs representing Strangford.
Nesbitt is regarded as one of the more liberal unionists, he had previously stated his opposition to same-sex marriage, but spoke in favour in 2017. His appeal to change the hands of leadership in Northern Ireland with the Social Democratic and Labour Party and Alliance Party fell on the deaf ears of Northern Irish society in which the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin claimed an increased victory over the opposing parties. He has been compared to reforming and liberal Ulster Unionist Party Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Terence O'Neill by some historians and politicians.
In May 2020, Nesbitt resigned as deputy chair of an Assembly committee after he admitted breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules by visiting a female friend. He announced that he had separated from his wife in January of that year.
Nesbitt was the UUP representative on the NI Policing Board from July 2020 until 2024.
Nesbitt was the Ulster Unionist Party's Economy spokesperson. In this role, he called on the United Kingdom government to cut Northern Ireland's corporation tax to appeal to businesses and U.S. investment in NI. In August 2023, he called for duty-free shopping for flights from Northern Ireland to the EU to be reinstated.
Nesbitt voiced concerns over the safety implications of the PSNI data leak. Furthermore, he said that he was concerned for the "wellbeing of the officers and police staff." Nesbitt also wrote to the Chief Constable Simon Byrne to ask for clarity over the theft of a police laptop.
On 22 August 2023, following an emergency meeting of the Policing Board, Nesbitt called on PSNI leadership "to form a plan to improve the appalling levels of low confidence in the PSNI." This came after a LucidTalk opinion poll revealed that public confidence in the PSNI was at its lowest ever.
In 2024, Nesbitt was appointed as the private secretary to the Health Minister, Robin Swann, and succeeded Swann as Health Minister following his resignation following the calling of the 2024 general election, in which Swann was a candidate.
Minister of Health (2024–2026)
Appointment Nesbitt succeeded Robin Swann as Health Minister following his resignation on 28 May 2024. His appointment prompted a resignation from the UUP after Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Councillor Paul Michael resigned citing Nesbitt's breach of the COVID-19 regulations during the pandemic in which he was involved in an extramarital affair as the reason. Nesbitt called being health minister "the political honour" of his life but also the "ultimate political challenge of my life."
Tenure On 29 May 2024, Nesbitt stated that he is not prepared to implement "catastrophic cuts" to services. He also vowed not to shirk hard or controversial decisions in the remaining three years of the Assembly mandate. He also visited L'Arche Village in Belfast and presented certificates at the Orchardville Society's annual awards at Titanic Belfast in his first engagements. Nesbitt said that he would be a champion for both patients and healthcare staff.
Nesbitt welcomed the increase in the number of people supporting organ donation in Northern Ireland following the one year anniversary of the introduction of Dáithi's Law on 31 May 2024.
On 3 June 2024, Nesbitt made his opening statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly as Health Minister.
Nesbitt stressed the importance of being aware of the dangers of UV exposure on 5 June 2024. He visited Kirkinriola Primary School to take part in a Cancer Focus Northern Ireland Sun Scientist session.
On 12 June 2024, Nesbitt said that the Health Inequalities Annual Report must be essential reading across all parts of public life in Northern Ireland, stating that health inequalities are 'a challenge to us all.'
Nesbitt congratulated Health and Social Care staff honoured in the 2024 Birthday Honours list on 14 June 2024. He sent his "warmest congratulations to each and every person nominated."
On 25 June 2024, Nesbitt welcomed the publication of final draft NICE guidance recommending use of the drugs Kaftrio, Orkambi and Symkevi for cystic fibrosis.
Nesbitt praised local health trusts after Northern Ireland became the first region in the UK to have all its diagnostic imaging services accredited on 26 June 2024.
On 28 June 2024, Nesbitt praised a family-run GP surgery for its commitment to the rural community in South Armagh.
Nesbitt welcomed additional in-year funding for the Department of Health on 1 July 2024. However, he also said a "significant shortfall" remains in the department's budget.
On 9 July 2024, Nesbitt announced that core grant funding for community and voluntary organisations will be maintained. He confirmed that £1.8m will be distributed, keeping it at the same level as the previous year. Nesbitt also announced £200,000 funding to help those suffering from substance abuse and mental health difficulties.
Nesbitt announced a series of key initiatives planned for the next six months on 10 July 2024. He also said that tackling health inequalities must be a "priority across all parts of government."
On 11 July 2024, Nesbitt made his first visit to Altnagelvin Hospital. He met with staff across a range of services and took a tour of the facilities.
Nesbitt welcomed social care reports on 18 July 2024. He emphasised that reforming adult social care is about so much more than easing hospital pressures.
On 19 July 2024, Nesbitt welcomed the BMA NI Consultant Committee's decision to recommend the department's proposed 2024/25 pay offer for consultants to its membership.
Nesbitt highlighted the role of Elective Care Centres in helping to reduce lengthy waiting lists during a visit to the Western Trust Elective Overnight Stay Centre on 24 July 2024.
On 1 August 2024, Nesbitt and Justice Minister Naomi Long launched a new Care Pathway and Model to provide streamlined access to Community Forensic Services.
On 21 August 2024, Nesbitt appointed Northern Ireland's first independent Autism Reviewer.
Nesbitt welcomed confirmation from the BMA Northern Ireland consultants committee that it will accept the pay offer tabled by the Department of Health on 23 August 2024.
On 27 August 2024, Nesbitt extended the appointment of Professor Siobhan O’Neill as the Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland.
Nesbitt acknowledged the "immensely valuable" contribution made by internationally recruited staff in Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland on 29 August 2024.
On 11 September 2024, Nesbitt launched a new health and wellbeing framework for staff working within Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland.
On 8 April 2025, When asked about the possibility of introducing a Surgical Mesh Redress Scheme in Northern Ireland—similar to the one established in Scotland—Nesbitt described the situation as “unfortunate”, adding that he did not wish to act as a devolved government or “sow the seeds of division” among the thousands left disabled.
Resignation Nesbitt resigned as Health Minister on 18 August 2026 following a clash with UUP leader Jon Burrows. The argument arose after Burrows spoke at a public meeting organized in opposition to the plan to transfer emergency general surgery operations to Antrim Area Hospital while converting Causeway Hospital into an elective surgery hub. At the meeting, Burrows expressed his opposition to the plan, directly contradicting the position of the Health Minister. He was the second high-profile resignation from the party within months, after another former leader Doug Beattie quit in May 2026, lashing out at Burrows' leadership.
Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
First term (2012–2017) Mike Nesbitt was elected as UUP party leader on 31 March 2012. He defeated South Down assembly member John McCallister with a final vote tally of 536 votes to 129. Nesbitt said he wanted the UUP to become "the party of choice for every pro-union voter in Northern Ireland".
In April 2012, Nesbitt announced that he wanted to make history by being the first leader of his party to attend a Sinn Féin ard fheis. He said: "We should be going to all the conferences of the main parties, not just the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats."