Jon Burrows ratified as leader of Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
Jon Burrows and Diana Armstrong were ratified as leader and deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) at an Extraordinary General Meeting on Saturday.
February 1, 2026
Jon Burrows and Diana Armstrong were ratified as leader and deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) at an Extraordinary General Meeting on Saturday.
Gavin Robinson has invited new UUP leader Jon Burrows for talks on unionist co-operation. In a letter to DUP members, he said he “looks forward to working with Jon Burrows to see how our parties could co-operate and work together”.
It’s now almost certain that Jon Burrows will be the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, after the current deputy leader, Robbie Butler, confirmed that he will not be standing for the position.
The UUP have announced that their new leader will be selected at the end of January following a vote by party members. Jon Burrows and Robbie Butler are expected to put their names forward for the position. Current leader Mike Nesbitt is stepping down to let someone else lead the party into the 2027 Assembly election.
Retired Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) superintendent Jon Burrows has been co-opted to replace Colin Crawford as the Ulster Unionist Party’s MLA in North Antrim, after he resigned less than a year after being appointed.