Jon Burrows has become the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party following an uncontested ratification event.

All nine of the party’s MLAs attended the gathering at a hotel on a Saturday during the winter, confirming his installation.

Burrows was co-opted as MLA for North Antrim after the previous incumbent, Robin Swann, was elected as MP for South Antrim. He succeeds Mike Nesbitt as leader.

There was no ballot for the position. Robbie Butler, the deputy leader and MLA for Lagan Valley, had been expected to stand but did not, and no other candidate came forward.

This continues a pattern for the UUP: five leadership changes since 2012 have now taken place without a membership vote. In 2017 Robin Swann was unopposed, as were Steve Aiken in 2019, Doug Beattie in 2021, and Mike Nesbitt on his return in 2024. The last contested leadership election was in 2012, when Mike Nesbitt defeated John McCallister.

In the most recent Assembly election in 2022, the UUP won nine seats with 96,390 first preference votes, 11.2% of the total, in a chamber reduced from 108 to 90 members.