Jon Burrows marks Belfast Agreement anniversary saying peace must now lead to prosperity in NI

Twenty-eight years after the Belfast Agreement reshaped Northern Ireland’s future, Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows MLA has said the next political mission must be to turn the peace secured in 1998 into lasting prosperity, governance reform and renewed public confidence in Stormont’s institutions.

Marking the anniversary of the landmark accord on Friday, April 10, Burrows used the moment to reflect on both the transformation brought by the Agreement and what he described as the failures that followed in the decades since.

In a strongly worded statement, the Ulster Unionist leader said the party’s role in helping secure the Belfast Agreement had helped deliver “a more peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland”, but argued that the promise of that moment had since been weakened by political decisions and the continued presence of paramilitary structures.

“On this day in 1998, the Ulster Unionist Party helped bring about a more peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland,” he said.

“The Belfast Agreement was transformational in delivering a once unthinkable level of peace and provided an opportunity to turn hope into real prosperity and opportunity for everyone in Northern Ireland.”

A defining political anniversary

The statement comes exactly 28 years after the Belfast Agreement — also known as the Good Friday Agreement — was signed on 10 April 1998, marking a pivotal turning point in Northern Ireland’s history after decades of conflict.

The agreement laid the foundations for power-sharing government, cross-community political institutions and a framework aimed at securing long-term peace and stability.

Burrows said the Ulster Unionist Party had taken what he described as a political risk in backing the peace process at that time.

“The Ulster Unionist Party took a risk for peace because we believed Northern Ireland deserved better prospects than it previously had,” he said.

“That belief has not changed. Wanting better for our people and the next generation is the founding principle of everything this party does, and we will never abandon it.”

The remarks place the party’s current political messaging firmly in the context of its historic role in the peace process, while also seeking to frame its future agenda around economic growth and institutional reform.

Sharp criticism of what followed

While the statement reflects on the progress achieved since 1998, it also delivers pointed criticism of the political and security landscape that followed.

Burrows said the optimism that accompanied the Belfast Agreement had been undermined over time.

“But twenty eight years is long enough to be honest about what followed,” he said.

“The hope of 1998 was not squandered by those who built the Agreement; it was systematically undermined by the failure to ensure paramilitary structures were dismantled, and by politicians who maligned the Ulster Unionist Party for the steps it took to bring about a more peaceful Northern Ireland.”

The comments are likely to resonate amid ongoing political debate around governance, public confidence in devolved institutions and the long-running impact of legacy issues linked to the Troubles.

Burrows also criticised subsequent changes to the Agreement and wider governance arrangements, arguing they had failed to strengthen either unionism or Northern Ireland more broadly.

“The changes made to the Belfast Agreement and other governance structures have been neither positive for unionism nor for Northern Ireland, and the last 20 years have witnessed confidence in the institutions erode.”

A call for a new political phase

Moving beyond reflection, the Ulster Unionist leader used the anniversary to call for what he described as the “next phase” of the party’s mission.

He said the focus must now shift towards improving governance and delivering economic opportunity.

“The Ulster Unionist Party’s mission did not end on 10th April 1998. It continued.

“Now is the time for the next phase of the mission to improve Northern Ireland’s governance, create real prosperity and deliver a Northern Ireland that provides hope and opportunities for everyone.”

The emphasis on prosperity comes at a time when economic pressures, public service challenges and Stormont’s ability to deliver effective government remain central issues across Northern Ireland politics.

Burrows said the region deserved more than what he characterised as stagnation and political dysfunction.

“Northern Ireland deserves better than managed decline or its current state of politics.”

“The Ulster Unionist Party delivered the framework for peace. Now is the time to realise the full opportunity of this wonderful place we call home.”

He added: “I believe in Northern Ireland and it’s time we achieved our full potential.”

Political significance

The anniversary statement positions the Ulster Unionist Party’s historic legacy within today’s political landscape, linking its role in the peace process to current calls for reform and economic renewal.

With Stormont continuing to face scrutiny over delivery, public trust and long-term stability, the intervention is likely to form part of wider political debate over how Northern Ireland moves from preserving peace to building sustainable prosperity.

For many across Northern Ireland, the anniversary remains both a moment of reflection on how far the region has come and a reminder of the unresolved challenges that continue to shape its future.

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At a glance

• Jon Burrows MLA marked the 28th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement

• He said the Ulster Unionist Party helped deliver peace in 1998

• Burrows described the Agreement as “transformational”

• He said later failures included the continued existence of paramilitary structures

• He criticised changes to governance arrangements over the past 20 years

• He said confidence in Northern Ireland’s institutions has eroded

• The party is now calling for a focus on governance reform and prosperity

• The statement links the peace legacy to future economic opportunity