As noted by roddy in comments, Douglas Beattie, leader of the UUP, has run into a serious issue with regard to tweets (he describes them as 'historic').

Earlier Mr Beattie apologised for tweeting a joke about the former DUP leader Edwin Poots and his wife.

Mr Beattie then issued a personal statement on Twitter.

"Since I made my unreserved apology in relation to a tweet at the weekend I have been made aware of a number of historic tweets which I published.

"I am deeply ashamed and embarrassed by the content of these tweets. They are totally unacceptable. They do not reflect the opinions or values I hold today," he tweeted.

The Upper Bann MLA said since the time he entered politics he had made a serious effort to increase the representation of women and advocate policies which would improve the lives and well-being of all women and girls.

"That is where I stand and I deeply regret the fact that these historic tweets could serve to undermine that position," he said.

And:

Twitter is awash with historical tweets containing many derogatory references to women.

One has emerged in which he accused Muslims of playing the victim.

 

There's even one in which he uses the N-word.

The fact that most date from a decade or more ago is largely irrelevant.

Then he was still a soldier.

 

And to compound matters:

Earlier, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots said his wife was disgusted by a joke posted about her by Mr Beattie.

The joke was posted on Saturday night and by Sunday morning Mr Beattie had deleted it.

Earlier, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots said his wife was disgusted by a joke posted about her by Mr Beattie.

The joke was posted on Saturday night and by Sunday morning Mr Beattie had deleted it.

As always there's the question why people think twitter or social media is somehow a context where this sort of language (and thought) is somehow invisible. Moreover anyone in, or thinking of, a career in the public eye should be conscious of the reality that this will not go away.Then there's the content which is clearly reprehensible. And then there's the political effect. Beattie has sought to present himself as a new and different leader of the Unionist party. Can he extricate himself from this?