In a significant development for Northern Irish politics, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) deputy leader Robbie Butler has announced he will not be putting his name forward to become the party's next leader. This decision, confirmed on Thursday 15 January 2026, appears to clear a path for North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows to assume the role uncontested.
A Surprise Withdrawal from the Race
Robbie Butler, the Lagan Valley MLA and current UUP deputy leader, stated that while he had received significant encouragement from colleagues across the party's elected offices and membership, he had concluded his leadership was not the desired path. In a statement released to the Press Association, Mr Butler explained that through conversations with party members, it became "apparent to me and my team that the direction many within the party now wish to pursue would be under a different leadership style and new focus."
He expressed gratitude for the support but confirmed definitively: "To this end I will not be offering my name for leader of the Ulster Unionist Party." Mr Butler added that he would now engage with the process to better understand the aims of any new leadership team.
The Road Ahead for the Ulster Unionists
Mr Butler's withdrawal leaves former senior police officer Jon Burrows as the only declared candidate for the leadership. Mr Burrows, who was co-opted as the North Antrim MLA last summer, had announced his candidacy the previous week at a Stormont press conference alongside Diana Armstrong, who is bidding for the deputy leader position. He had previously stated his desire for a contest.
The leadership vacancy arose after current leader Mike Nesbitt announced earlier this month his intention to step down. Mr Nesbitt, who also serves as Northern Ireland's Health Minister, aims to allow a new leader to guide the UUP into the next Assembly elections, expected in 2027. He will remain in post until an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for 31 January 2026. Nominations for the leadership closed on Thursday 15 January.
Vision for Unionism's Future
In his statement, Robbie Butler outlined his core beliefs for the party's trajectory, emphasising the need for a "confident, positive, modern unionism with a strong social conscience." He stressed that unionism must "look beyond its traditional base and focus on making Northern Ireland work, not just for today, but for our children and the generations that follow."
Mr Butler pledged to continue engaging "honestly and with good conscience," adhering to the principle of "country first, party second." His decision marks a pivotal moment for the UUP, which was once the dominant unionist force in Northern Ireland until being overtaken by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Assembly seat numbers in 2003.
Mike Nesbitt's impending departure concludes his second tenure at the helm, making him the first person to lead the party twice. His leadership history spans 2012 to 2017, after which he resigned following a challenging election result. The party was subsequently led by Robin Swann (2017-2019), Steve Aiken (2019-2021), and Doug Beattie (2021-2024) before Mr Nesbitt's return.
