This weekend Jon Burrows officially became the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and with this new title he has announced his goal of making the UUP the “biggest party in unionism again”.
The UUP has not held the unionist majority since it was overtaken by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in 2003 and have held that majority ever since, so there is a great amount of scepticism that Burrows will actually achieve this goal.
After speaking to some local people in Portstewart, one man said that Burrows’ desire for majority was “a dream that would not come true.” Another woman expressed that she felt that they wouldn’t win the majority because they no longer delivered on their promises like they did in the past. “My father was a unionist, and he always voted unionist, but in those days they actually did things for people” she told us, “Nowadays they talk the talk, but they don’t walk the walk. That’s my opinion.”
Burrows was the only candidate in the running to take the place of leader following the Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt’s resignation from the role earlier this year in January.
Burrows comes from a non-political background, spending 22 years as a police officer and only became a UUP MLA for North Antrim in 2025. However, despite his lack of experience in comparison to some other members of the political scene, people generally seem to have high hopes for Burrows and believe that his leadership could give a fresh start for the UUP.
In a statement from the Ulster Unionist Party’s official X’s account, they said Burrows alongside his Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong MLA they have “a fresh vision to rebuild and lead unionism once more, putting it back on the front foot, the Ulster Unionist Party remains unwavering in its commitment to doing what’s right for the people of Northern Ireland.”
- Emily Drew
