Diana Armstrong and Jon Burrows have been ratified as deputy leader and leader, respectively, of the Ulster Unionist Party. Photograph: Mark Marlow/PA WireThe Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) will begin “preparing to lead unionism in Northern Ireland again”, its new leader Jon Burrows has pledged. A former senior police officer, Mr Burrows was ratified as the party leader at a meeting in Belfast on Saturday. The Ulster Unionists had been the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland until it was usurped by the DUP in 2003. But speaking to the media alongside Ms Armstrong, Mr Burrows said the party would now return to the “front foot”.

Source: The Irish Times January 31, 2026 21:13 UTC