UUP leader to join Washington trip to ‘promote NI’ on St Patrick’s Day

Jon Burrows has said he will be visiting Washington on St Patrick’s day to “promote Northern Ireland”.

The UUP leader also faced questions at Stormont in relation to MLAs’ 27% pay rise, where he said his party “respects the view of the independent body” that recommended the uplift.

Sinn Fein have already said the party is continuing its boycott of events at the White House which began last year over US President Donald Trump’s support of Israel during its war in Gaza.

The DUP have confirmed that deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons will be travelling to the US for St Patrick’s day.

Mr Burrows told reporters on Monday: “Over St Patrick’s day I’ll be visiting the United States, Washington, and engaging with key individuals over there.

“My objective is clear and that is to promote Northern Ireland, in terms of a place to invest.

“I’ll be selling our outstanding workforce, particularly in sectors like fintech, cyber security and I’ll also be promoting Northern Ireland as somewhere to visit as a tourist destination.

“I’ll also be promoting the case for the Union, because I believe it is in the interest of the West and our security that Northern Ireland is an intrinsic part of the United Kingdom.”

Mr Burrows was asked several questions in relation to the £14,000 MLAs pay rise.

The Independent Remuneration Board has proposed an uplift in salaries for MLAs from £53,000 to £67,200 per year – a rise of 26.8%, from April 1.

It also recommended “significant financial sanctions” if an Executive is not formed following an election, or if at any time the offices of first minister and deputy first minister become vacant following recent political turbulence.

The UUP leader said: “We’ve taken a responsible position because we as a party didn’t put an input into the consultation.

“We understand public concern, public anger in some parts, but here’s the thing.

“We believe that Stormont has to up it’s game and our view is very clear, that anybody who collapses Stormont should actually get more punitive sanctions financially.

“We would have their pay taken entirely for the party that actually collapses Stormont and I understand, in short, performance in this place has not been good. It needs to improve.”

I understand that people think Stormont is not value for money. I believe the Ulster Unionist Party is value for money. That’s why there’s increased interest in our party.”

He added: “The principle here is this. There is an independent body for a reason and we need to respect the view of the independent body and that due process.

“And if that was in the future to not give increases, give increases that were below the rate of inflation, we will respect that too.

“We want to lift ourselves out of discussions about our own pay, leave them to an independent body.

“But here’s my challenge that I would put to everybody.

“The public are going to have a very good opportunity in May next year to vote out any party that they think is not delivered for the people of Northern Ireland and considering that Stormont has been collapsed twice, I think they should reflect upon who is trying to make Northern Ireland work.”