UUP’s Burrows commits to ‘maximise collective performance’ of unionism

New UUP leader Jon Burrows has pledged to take “practical steps to maximise collective performance at elections” in a letter to DUP leader Gavin Robinson.

In January Mr Robinson extended an invitation to Mr Burrows for talks around unionist co-operation after he emerged as the sole contender to succeed Mike Nesbitt as leader of the UUP.

At the time, a UUP spokesperson said the party would consider the invitation.

In a letter to Mr Robinson, Mr Burrows referred to his appointment as leader “as an energising moment for the party and for wider Unionism”, and said the focus now “is on harnessing that renewed momentum to strengthen and advance the pro-Union cause”.

Mr Burrows pointed to a “series of consequential strategic decisions that have weakened Unionism’s position”, leading to a reduction in the number of MLAs, and the handling of Brexit which he believes led to the “Irish Sea border”.

He claimed these “have had a cumulative impact on Unionist morale, our collective electoral performance and confidence among pro-Union voters”.

Mr Burrows stressed the need for “better long term thinking within Unionism, learning from lessons of the past, and taking practical steps to maximise collective performance at elections”.

He called for a “clear and credible electoral choice for voters, while remaining open to constructive co-operation that best serves the Union and the people of Northern Ireland”.

On his ratification as leader of the party last week, Mr Burrows said he wants to grow his party until it becomes the “biggest in unionism again”.

In his letter, the new UUP leader highlighted the “shared responsibility of Unionist leaders to encourage higher turnout and convert pro-Union votes into the maximum possible representation in councils, the Assembly, and Westminster”.

The discussions come after Sinn Fein historically became the biggest political party in Northern Ireland for the first time.

The party became entitled to nominate its vice president Michelle O’Neill to become the first nationalist First Minister in 2022 after topping the Assembly election poll. She took up the role in 2024 following the restoration of devolved government after a two-year collapse.

In the past, some parties have agreed to step aside in specific constituencies in a bid to maximise the unionist vote and secure seats.

Under that approach, the UUP’s Tom Elliott won the Fermanagh and South Tyrone Westminster seat in 2015, narrowly defeating the Sinn Fein candidate.