Nesbitt urges ‘compassionate and confident’ unionism for a new era in landmark UUP conference speech

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Mike Nesbitt MLA

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Mike Nesbitt MLA has called for a “radical reconciliation” across Northern Ireland as he delivered a powerful and reflective keynote speech at the UUP’s annual conference in Belfast, outlining his vision for a more compassionate and forward-looking unionism.

Speaking to members and delegates at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Mr Nesbitt said the party must “lead from the front” in offering hope, healing, and a new sense of purpose for Northern Ireland, grounded in inclusion, health reform, and respect for all traditions.

“We must be brave enough to lead again — not to shout louder, but to listen harder,” he said. “Unionism has always been strongest when it has been confident, compassionate, and capable of self-reflection.”

Reconciliation and shared identity

In one of the most striking sections of his speech, the UUP leader returned to themes of reconciliation and identity that have defined his political career, warning that Northern Ireland could not afford to remain “stuck in a politics of grievance and suspicion.”

“Our greatest challenge is not our neighbours, nor those who think differently from us — it’s the fear that we can’t change,” he said.

“We can. We must. Because reconciliation is not weakness; it’s strength. It’s leadership.”

Mr Nesbitt urged the party to reclaim its historical role as a bridge-builder within unionism and across communities, echoing his long-standing argument that the Union’s stability depends on relationships as much as sovereignty.

“If the Union is to endure, it must feel inclusive,” he said. “People must see their place in it, no matter their background or belief.”

A new approach to health and wellbeing

Turning to public services, the former broadcast journalist and South Belfast MLA placed particular emphasis on the crisis in the Northern Ireland health system, saying that the time had come for “courageous reform, not another review.”

“We cannot simply keep pouring money into a system that is broken,” he told delegates. “We need a health service fit for purpose, for staff and for patients alike. That’s why I am proud that the Ulster Unionist Party continues to be known as the Party of Health.”

He praised the “tireless leadership” of former UUP Health Minister Robin Swann MP, crediting him with stabilising the health service during the pandemic and setting the foundation for future reform.

“Robin showed that Ulster Unionists govern differently — responsibly, with compassion, with principle,” Mr Nesbitt said.

Unionism “with heart, not hostility”

Mr Nesbitt challenged delegates to think beyond “defensive politics,” describing a vision of unionism “with heart, not hostility.”

He said the party must focus on improving daily life — from education and transport to mental health and social cohesion — if it is to reconnect with the next generation of voters.

“If unionism is to grow, it must first heal,” he said. “We can’t demand loyalty to the Union if we don’t demonstrate loyalty to our people — in how we govern, how we speak, and how we listen.”

His address also reaffirmed the UUP’s position as an alternative to what he called “negative and confrontational” politics elsewhere in unionism, declaring that his party would continue to prioritise delivery over division.

Women, families and modern representation

Referencing the earlier speech by Antrim and Newtownabbey Mayor Leah Kirkpatrick, Mr Nesbitt praised her as “an example of the next generation of leadership our party needs — a mother, a mayor, a modern unionist unafraid to speak truth to power.”

He said the UUP was determined to promote women and young people into public life and challenge the culture of exclusion and misogyny that has too often deterred female representation.

“Leah’s courage and authenticity remind us that real leadership doesn’t look one way — it’s lived, it’s earned, and it’s shared,” he said.

Looking to the future

Mr Nesbitt closed his address with a message of optimism for Northern Ireland and for the Ulster Unionist Party’s role within it.

“We are the generation that can make Northern Ireland work,” he said. “Not by denying our differences, but by daring to understand them.”

“This party’s story has always been one of service — and that story is not finished. Together, we can write its next chapter.”