UUP presses Prime Minister on heating oil costs, defence investment and trade friction

(L-R) Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA, John Stewart MLA, Jon Burrows MLA, Prime Minister KeirStarmer, Secretary of State Hillary Benn MP and Chief Executive Jayne Murray.

Ulster Unionist Party leaders have pressed Prime Minister Keir Starmer to deliver targeted support for households reliant on heating oil and increase defence investment in Northern Ireland during what they described as a “frank and constructive” meeting in Belfast.

Party leader Jon Burrows MLA met the Prime Minister alongside Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA, John Stewart MLA and UUP Chief Executive Jayne Murray, raising concerns about rising energy costs, legacy issues and barriers to trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Heating oil reliance “leaves Northern Ireland exposed”

Following the meeting, Mr Burrows said the party highlighted the urgent need for government support for heating oil users, warning that Northern Ireland is particularly vulnerable to price shocks.

He said:

“My colleagues and I had a frank and constructive meeting with the Prime Minister today in Belfast, where we raised a number of issues that are having a real and immediate impact on people across Northern Ireland.”

Mr Burrows stressed that around 70% of households in Northern Ireland rely on heating oil, making the region far more exposed to global supply disruptions than other parts of the UK.

“I made clear the urgent need for targeted UK Government support on home heating oil, following the ongoing uncertainty of supply from the Middle East,” he said.

“Around seventy percent of households here rely on heating oil, leaving Northern Ireland disproportionately exposed to price shocks.”

He also warned the issue has wider implications for agriculture and food production.

“We are three percent of the population, yet we provide around twenty percent of the UK’s food,” he said.

“Northern Ireland is therefore being disproportionately hit by rising oil prices, and the UK Government must step in, not only in our interests, but in the interests of UK food security.”

Call for greater defence investment

During the discussions, the UUP delegation also urged the Prime Minister to direct a greater share of UK defence spending to Northern Ireland.

Mr Burrows argued the region’s workforce and industrial capacity made it well placed to benefit from additional investment.

“We pressed the Prime Minister on defence expenditure and made a strong case for greater defence investment in Northern Ireland,” he said.

“We have a highly skilled, world-class workforce, and there is clear capacity for a larger share of UK defence spending to be directed here, supporting jobs, skills, and economic growth.”

Legacy issues raised in talks

The meeting also addressed ongoing debates around legacy investigations relating to the Troubles.

Mr Burrows said he made it clear there should be no moral or legal equivalence between security forces and paramilitary groups.

“On legacy, I was unequivocal that there must be no moral or legal equivalence between those who served their country in uniform and those who deliberately set out to murder and maim,” he said.

He added that this principle should be reflected in legislation and called for a high threshold for investigations involving former soldiers and police officers.

Mr Burrows also said the UK Government should continue pressing the Irish Government for cooperation in legacy matters.

“I also pressed the need for the UK Government to stand firm in seeking full cooperation from the Irish Government in delivering truth and justice for victims of terrorism.”

Trade friction and the Windsor Framework

Dr Steve Aiken MLA used the meeting to highlight concerns around trade barriers between Northern Ireland and Great Britain following the Windsor Framework.

Mr Burrows said the party believes further action is needed to reduce East–West trade friction.

“The forthcoming UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement is a step in the right direction for particular sectors in Northern Ireland, but more must be done to remove EU governance and trade frictions across our economy.”

He added that continued engagement with the UK Government would be essential to improve trading conditions for businesses.

“These issues require continued engagement. The Ulster Unionist Party will continue to push for a better deal for Northern Ireland, and I welcome the opportunity to put Northern Ireland’s case directly to the Prime Minister.”

At a glance

• Ulster Unionist Party leaders met Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Belfast.

• Delegation included Jon Burrows MLA, Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA, John Stewart MLA and UUP Chief Executive Jayne Murray.

• Party called for targeted UK Government support for households reliant on heating oil.

• Around 70% of homes in Northern Ireland depend on heating oil for heating.

• UUP also pushed for increased defence investment in Northern Ireland.

• Legacy issues were raised, including calls for no equivalence between security forces and terrorists.

• The party urged continued pressure on the Irish Government for cooperation on legacy cases.

• Concerns were also raised about trade friction under the Windsor Framework.

• UUP says further action is needed to ease East–West trade barriers for businesses.