North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows has announced that he will be running to be the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) at a press conference at Stormont on Thursday morning.
Diana Armstrong is running alongside him to be the next deputy leader of the party.
Burrows was co-opted to the Assembly in August last year, replacing Colin Crawford. The former senior police officer only joined the party last summer. He spoke at the TUV conference in March 2025 which prompted rumours that he was going to join Jim Allister’s party. He insisted at the time that he was not a member of any party.
In a press release issued by Burrows, he said he is “drawing on decades of leadership and public service” in his bid to become leader.
“Strong leadership and real change are necessary in both this party and in our wider politics to reconnect with the electorate, arrest stagnation, and deliver solutions for the people of Northern Ireland,” he said.
“Under my leadership, the Ulster Unionist Party will be clear, credible and on the front foot. We will relentlessly focus on competence and delivery: cutting waste, economic growth, and better public services.”
“The UUP should once again be the natural home for people who believe in strong Unionism, common-sense politics, and pride in Northern Ireland, but who reject sectarianism and division.”
Diana Armstrong also released a statement announcing her candidacy for the deputy leader position. It is reported that Robbie Butler, the current deputy leader of the party, also asked Ms Armstrong to run alongside him.
“I would like to thank Jon for the trust he has placed in me by asking me to serve as his deputy leader,” she said
“I do not underestimate the significance of being nominated as the first female deputy leader in the 101 year history of the UUP. This is a responsibility and an honour, and a reminder that our party is moving forward,” she added.
The UUP only have one female MLA in their team of nine in the Assembly, and this is a problem that Burrows mentioned in his statement: “We need to attract more women and young people to our party. One female MLA out of nine is not good enough. I will address these issues with urgency.”
Ms Armstrong, MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, was co-opted to the Assembly in September 2024 to replace Lord Elliot when he moved to the House of Lords. She stood in the 2024 general election against Pat Cullen, taking almost 40% of the vote share, but losing to Cullen who received 49% of votes.
Robbie Butler was encouraged by senior party figures to stand for the leader position on Wednesday. He is reportedly preferred by the Assembly team, but members of the party, who each get a vote for the new leader, favour Burrows.
The party would prefer to have a leadership contest, having not had once since 2012 when Mike Nesbitt beat John McCallister for the position.
Members will vote for their new leader on Saturday 31 January at the Stormont Hotel.
