Jon Burrows launches leadership bid - promising 'straight talking' and a Stormont that delivers for the public
Jon Burrows has launched his bid to be the next Ulster Unionist leader – saying that the Northern Ireland needs “fresh thinking and strong leadership” to break through the “malaise” at Stormont.
Standing alongside his running mate Diana Armstrong – Mr Burrows said the pair want “straight talking” and to see the party not just participating in, but leading politics here.
The pair dismissed criticism that they had not been elected to the Assembly, saying it was driven by a “parochial” viewpoint and that “talent, leadership and public service” should be recognised.
Mr Burrows said that he wants to grow the party – and has “concrete plans” to attract more women and young people. Mrs Armstrong would be the first female deputy leader in the party’s history, which has also never been led by a woman.
His announcement came the morning after the party officially kickstarted the process to replace Mike Nesbitt, who stood down at the end of last week. Current deputy leader Robbie Butler is said to be weighing up his options – but has not yet confirmed whether he will run against Mr Burrows.
Jon Burrows also called for anyone who is interested in a debate about the future of the party to enter the contest, and give the members a choice.
Responding to reports in the News Letter this week that senior party figures were warning of a split in the Stormont MLA group if he became leader, the North Antrim MLA praised his colleagues.
“I have a very professional group of colleagues. That is why I joined the Ulster Unionist Party – and I think they are professional people. If they want to engage in the leadership contest, they can do so. We will have our discussions honestly and candidly, and then we'll get on with our business”.
He said that during the campaign, nobody in his camp would be “talking down” rivals – adding “I’m here to work with them, whatever the outcome is”.
The leadership contender said that politicians are paid by the public purse, and if results “don't go your way, you've got to get on with it, and… get back to work for people in Northern Ireland”.
He argued that there should be a contest, as it would be good for the party. “Let’s give the members a choice, and then let’s unite afterwards – and go and fight the next election, start growing again and leading politics”, the MLA said.
Asked if any debate between contenders should be held in public, rather than behind closed doors, Mr Burrows said he needed to be “respectful of the party officers”.
“I will let them make that decision, you know I have a very open relationship with the press – with appropriate boundaries – so I will go with whatever [party officers] say”.
Fielding media questions, Mr Burrows said he had already proven his unionist credentials, and wants to work “with everyone to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland”.
He said he was not seeking to lead the UUP to merge it into a larger unionist party – but wanted it to once again become the largest party in Northern Ireland.
“The people of Northern Ireland need an Ulster Unionist Party of reasonableness, decency and integrity – and is rooted in finding solutions to the everyday problems that Stormont has failed to deliver on”, he said.
He said that there had been a feeling that “if you speak up and challenge, if you are strong in scrutiny… somehow you are a troublemaker – that is not the truth”.
“The answer is not to bring this place down as some say, the answer is to lift it up, make it better and actually deliver for the people who send us here, because Northern Ireland has been let down by politics in the last 15 years”, Mr Burrows told journalists.
He also said that changes needed to happen both within the party, and in Northern Ireland.
“Strong leadership and real change are necessary in both this party and in our wider politics to reconnect with the electorate, arrest stagnation, and deliver solutions for the people of Northern Ireland,” he said.
“I am an unapologetic unionist who will always advocate confidently for Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom. I have shown that I will robustly challenge those who try to rewrite the history of the Troubles or talk our country down.
“But strong unionism is not about volume or grievance – it is about confidence, credibility, and delivery.
“The strongest case for the Union is making Northern Ireland work better for everyone who lives here”.