It says everything you need to know about the Ulster Unionist Party that it can barely muster enough people for a game of solitaire to stand for the position of party leader.

The UUP is such an oddity that, since the political eclipse of David Trimble, it has struggled to find a leader capable of turning it into a relevant force.

Other parties do unionism ‘better’. If you want intransigence, the TUV is there to oblige. If you want to avoid making tough decisions that would amount to effective government, the DUP is ready and willing to put a block in the road.

And if you’re pro-union but want to avoid being tarnished with the discredited unionist brand, the Alliance is a safe place to park your votes. Sitting on the fence with a cheek on either side is what Alliance does best.

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In spite of all that, the UUP goes through the machinations of pretending to be a viable political entity. What’s the point?

Clearly, current leader Mike Nesbitt has asked that question and come up with a rational answer.

My only hope is that he doesn’t use his free time to write his memoirs. What a waste of paper that would be.

Like Nesbitt, UUP members would be better off spending........

© The Irish News