Two internal, members-only hustings events are to take place within the party to allow contenders to engage directly with the membership. Speaking to media on Thursday morning, Mr Burrows responded saying “absolutely” when asked if he would welcome a contest for the role. “We describe ourselves as the most democratic party in Northern Ireland, but that doesn’t count if we always have coronations. Let’s have a conversation, let’s set out our visions, let’s give the members a choice, then let’s unite afterwards and go and fight the next election and start growing again. Mr Nesbitt, a former broadcast journalist, led the UUP between 2012 and 2017 but quit following a difficult Assembly election result.

Source: The Herald January 08, 2026 14:32 UTC