Lady Sylvia Hermon, the Ulster Unionist Party's only remaining MP announced tonight that she does not want to succeed David Trimble as party leader, citing family commitments for her decision.
Last weekend Lady Sylvia was one of three people - the others were party chairman Lord Rogan and East Belfast Assembly member Sir Reg Empey - who were tasked with heading the party until a successor to Mr Trimble was decided by a meeting of the ruling Ulster Unionist Executive next month.
After Mr Trimble announced his resignation she said she was giving consideration to running, but in a brief statement tonight she said: "In light of my family commitments, I am unwilling to let my name go forward as a candidate to succeed David Trimble."
Lady Sylvia has two school age sons and her husband, former RUC Chief Constable Sir Jack Hermon, is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
She managed to increase her majority at the General Election while all her fellow party MPs were being unseated by the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party.
She said she greatly regretted the disappointment her decision would cause to colleagues, who had been generous in their support, but also extended her regret to the many people throughout Northern Ireland and beyond who had enthusiastically encouraged her to enter the leadership race.
"They will, I trust, come to understand the rightness of my decision in the present circumstances."
Lady Sylvia, who had expressed the opinion that the party should move to a more liberal stance and not try to out-Paisley Ian Paisley, had been in a strong position to take over as leader, but had not been the front runner in the betting.
PA