Jon Burrows will use his first UUP conference address to warn that unionism "stands at a crossroads" and to urge growth in support rather than the simple reallocation of existing votes. He will say the UUP is "ready to lead" while rejecting calls to allow Stormont to collapse, warning this would advantage Sinn Féin. Internal tensions have followed the departures of Doug Beattie and Mike Nesbitt, even as LucidTalk polling puts the UUP on 16%—ahead of the DUP. Burrows must now translate polling gains into additional seats at next May's assembly and council elections.
Burrows Warns Unionism 'At A Crossroads' As UUP Seeks To Turn Poll Lead Into Seats
Jon Burrows [PA Media]
Jon Burrows will tell delegates at the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) conference on Saturday that unionism in Northern Ireland "stands at a crossroads", delivering his first major speech since becoming party leader earlier this year.
The former police officer was co-opted to Stormont as an MLA last summer and took over the leadership at the start of the year. Burrows is expected to argue that unionism must expand its support base rather than simply reallocate the votes it already commands.
His remarks follow calls from DUP leader Gavin Robinson for greater cooperation among unionist parties ahead of next year’s assembly election, with the aim of increasing the overall number of unionist seats.
Ready To Lead — But Facing Internal Strain
At the conference the UUP leader will say the party is "ready to lead", pressing his case for rebuilding the Ulster Unionists' standing at Stormont after years of decline. He is also expected to stress that electoral pacts alone are not a sustainable growth strategy.
Doug Beattie resigned from the UUP in May 2026 and Mike Nesbitt resigned as Health Minister last month [PA Media]
"Better management of the votes we already have is not a growth strategy. We need to bring out those who stay at home, earn back those who have moved elsewhere and give young people a reason to vote unionist for the first time," Burrows will tell delegates.
Burrows enjoys strong grassroots backing, but his tenure has seen notable internal friction. Former leader Doug Beattie quit the party in May 2026, and Mike Nesbitt resigned as Health Minister last month after a public dispute over hospital services. Reports say a number of MLAs are estranged from the leader; Robbie Butler was appointed as Nesbitt's replacement.
On Stormont, Sinn Féin And The Border Poll
Burrows will reject suggestions that the assembly should be allowed to collapse, calling such a move "a dereliction of duty" and warning it would "gift wrap" seats to Sinn Féin. On Sinn Féin's calls for a border poll, he is expected to argue that practical governance and improving public services should come first.
"You claim you want to build an entirely new state. Your ministers cannot even fix the potholes in the roads of this one," he will say. "Our plan for Northern Ireland starts with a simple proposition: strong individuals build strong families. Strong families build strong communities. Strong communities build a strong Northern Ireland, and a strong Northern Ireland strengthens our United Kingdom."
From Polling Bounce To Electoral Gains
Recent LucidTalk polling shows the UUP on 16%, apparently overtaking the DUP and giving Burrows a strong approval rating among unionist leaders. But party insiders and commentators caution that polling momentum must be converted into seats: Burrows has never before contested an election and must secure his North Antrim seat while helping the UUP win additional assembly and council seats in next May's contests.
Party modernisation, candidate recruitment and improved constituency organisation are widely cited as necessary if the UUP is to capitalise on its polling position. The DUP remains better organised electorally, and Burrows will need concrete results in next May’s polls to demonstrate lasting revival rather than a temporary surge.
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