NEWS

Inset: Ulster Unionist Party Leader, North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows Tuesday 3 November 2026 Private sales of fireworks should be banned in Northern Ireland except in exceptional circumstances, with displays restricted to organised public events, Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows MLA has said. The proposal follows another Halloween period in which the impact of fireworks on pets and their owners has come under scrutiny, with Mr Burrows arguing that unpredictable explosion

Inset: Jonathan Buckley MLA is calling for unionist unity across Northern Ireland three main unionist parties. Sunday 01 November 2026 A call for formal talks between Northern Ireland’s three unionist parties has exposed differences over what cooperation should achieve, with the UUP questioning whether the proposal has DUP leadership backing and TUV challenging its political direction. DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley has invited the three party leaders to immediate discussions aimed

Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows MLA, and the party’s candidate for Mid Ulster in next May’s Northern Ireland Assembly election, Ian Irwin. Monday 26 October 2026 The Ulster Unionist Party has selected former prison officer and victims advocate Ian Irwin as its candidate for Mid Ulster in next May’s Northern Ireland Assembly election. Mr Irwin, who has been a member of the party for more than 15 years, will seek to secure an Assembly seat for the UUP in a constituency

Robin Swann MP & Ulster Unionist Party Airport District Electoral Area representative Ryan Kirkpatrick at Belfast International Airport Saturday 24 October 2026 A call to scrap or substantially reduce Air Passenger Duty (APD) on flights leaving Northern Ireland has been made ahead of the upcoming UK Budget, amid concerns that the tax is putting local airports at a competitive disadvantage against Dublin. South Antrim MP Robin Swann has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequ

Friday 16 October 2026 The UK Government is facing calls to establish whether the Provisional IRA still exists, retains an active leadership structure or has any operational capability, almost 11 years after an official security assessment concluded that the organisation remained in existence. Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows MLA has written to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland requesting a new assessment of all terrorist and paramilitary organisations, amid

Ballymoney Train Station Thursday 15 October 2026 Passengers using Ballymoney Train Station are facing difficulties accessing the station building and toilet facilities, prompting calls for action after local residents complained about arriving to find them closed. Concerns have been raised about the impact on people travelling to work, education and medical appointments, particularly parents with young children who may need access to toilets while waiting for trains. Ulster

Former Ulster Unionist Party leader Lord Empey Tuesday 13 October 2026 Twenty years after the St Andrews Agreement reshaped Northern Ireland’s power-sharing arrangements, former Ulster Unionist Party leader Lord Empey has accused the DUP of making a “strategic blunder” that ultimately allowed Sinn Féin to secure the office of First Minister. Marking the anniversary of the October 2006 negotiations, Lord Empey claimed that changes to the rules for appointing Northern Ireland’s

Northern Ireland’s Unionist party leaders (L-R): Gavin Robinson MP (DUP), Jim Allister MP (TUV), and Jon Burrows (UUP). Saturday 10 October 2026 A deepening political dispute over Drumcree has exposed sharply different approaches within unionism, with DUP leader Gavin Robinson defending his party’s decision to remain in government, TUV leader Jim Allister accusing him of failing to deliver meaningful consequences, and Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows demanding police accoun

Matthew Robinson, the Ulster Unionist Party’s candidate for East Londonderry Saturday 10 October 2026 Portstewart resident Matthew Robinson has been selected as the Ulster Unionist Party’s candidate for East Londonderry in next May’s Northern Ireland Assembly election, pledging to champion local businesses, farming, education and health services across the constituency. The former chairman of the Northern Ireland Conservative Party will contest the election for the UUP under

Ulster Unionist Larty Leader & North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows, with Ahoghill racer Reuben Kernohan Tuesday 06 October 2026 Ahoghill teenager Reuben Kernohan has been praised on the floor of the Northern Ireland Assembly after a remarkable run of motorsport success which will see the 18-year-old represent Ireland on the world stage in Portugal next month. Ulster Unionist Party North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows described the young driver as “one of the most talented and dedicated youn

Ulster Unionist Party Leader & North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows (centre), pictured with UUP Ballymoney representative Gary Simpson (left), and (right) Scott Brown, director of CAN outside ‘The Hen House’, on Lislagan Farm Sunday 04 October 2026 A former family farm near Ballymoney has officially begun a new chapter as an inclusive community hub offering accessible accommodation, therapeutic outdoor spaces and opportunities for people to learn new skills. The 11-acre Lislagan Farm

The former Northern Regional College building in Ballymena Thursday 01 October 2026 Ballymena’s former Trostan Avenue college campus has no timescale for a sale, prompting Ulster Unionist representative Colin Crawford to seek an on-site meeting over security while a buyer is sought. A Department for the Economy response has confirmed that Northern Regional College is responsible for managing the vacant property and has instructed Land and Property Services to place it on the

NIFRS at the scene of the most recent deliberate fire In the former college building in Ballymena Wednesday 30 September 2026 Another suspected deliberate fire at Ballymena’s former Northern Regional College campus has prompted a call for urgent action to secure the building and clarify its future. Ulster Unionist representative Colin Crawford said “enough is enough” after firefighters were called to the vacant site on Saturday 19 September, warning that people living and wor

Tuesday 29 September 2026 Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows has called on Sinn Féin to replace Deirdre Hargey on the Northern Ireland Policing Board while the investigation into events on the Garvaghy Road, and any resulting proceedings, remain ongoing. He has written to the Board’s chair seeking an urgent decision before Thursday’s meeting, arguing that a member involved in events under investigation should not scrutinise the officers responsible for policing them. Th

Stormont Parliament Buildings and (inset) Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows Tuesday 29 September 2026 Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows has called on Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant to extend Thursday’s deadline for the Executive to agree a three-year budget, arguing that recent political tensions have made agreement within the current timeframe unlikely. Mr Burrows confirmed on Monday that he had written directly to the Secretary of State seeking wh

South Antrim MP Robin Swann during a visit to meet the volunteers of St John Ambulance in Antrim last year. Monday 28 September 2026 St John Ambulance volunteers in Antrim have had 75 years of service to their community formally recognised at Westminster, with South Antrim MP Robin Swann tabling a parliamentary motion marking the milestone. The Antrim unit, founded in 1951, has provided generations of first aid cover, emergency support and community care across the town and w

Speaking at Saturday’s UUP conference, Elizabeth Clarke MBE Sunday 27 September 2026 Working families should not be left to absorb the cost when childcare, housing, education, transport and other public services fail to deliver, Ulster Unionist candidate Elizabeth Clarke MBE has told her party’s annual conference. Clarke, who is standing as a second UUP candidate in South Antrim alongside MLA Steve Aiken, used her speech at Saturday’s conference to argue that pressures often

Ulster Unionist Party leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows speaking on Saturday at the party’s annual conference Saturday 26 September 2026 Ulster Unionist Party leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows has declared his party “ready to lead” as he used his first annual conference speech as leader to set out a broader plan for rebuilding unionism — and a policy programme centred on children, families, housing, infrastructure and reform of government. Addressing delegates on

Health Minister Robbie Butler Speaking at today’s Ulster Unionist Party conference Saturday 26 September 2026 Health Minister Robbie Butler has signalled that an expansion of Northern Ireland’s life-saving thrombectomy service is moving closer, telling the Ulster Unionist Party conference that the case for providing the specialist stroke treatment 24 hours a day, seven days a week “has been made”. Mr Butler, who took over the Department of Health just over five weeks ago, als

South Antrim MP Robin Swann speaking at today’s UUP annual conference Saturday 26 September 2026 Robin Swann has said the arrival of a new Prime Minister could create an opportunity to secure Westminster backing for the proposed £300 million to £500 million reopening of the Knockmore railway line through South Antrim. The South Antrim MP used his address to today’s Ulster Unionist Party annual conference to put infrastructure investment alongside changes to Troubles legislati