UUP Conference 2026: A Party Positioning for the Election Ahead

By Aine Magee, Associate Director, Connect Belfast The UUP Conference was a vibrant and more overtly political event than recent gatherings, serving as the party’s last major platform to rally the troops before the forthcoming Northern Ireland Assembly and council elections.  

While discussions on health, housing, skills and economic growth were key themes throughout, the conference was framed by a wider debate about the future of unionism, competition within the pro-Union vote, and constitutional issues.

The conference also took place against the backdrop of the renewed Drumcree dispute and forthcoming sentencing of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson.  

Ahead of party leader's speech, the UUP’s first female deputy leader Diana Armstrong spoke of her personal pride at being the first woman to hold the role and smashing the glass ceiling for all women.  

Party leader Jon Burrows, in the role eight months, walked into the room to the music of ABBA’s ‘Take A Chance on Me’ and Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop me Now’. He used his first keynote speech as party leader to present the UUP as the practical, moderate and competent voice of unionism. 

Against a striking visual backdrop and the slogan “Stronger Together”, he argued that unionism cannot afford further political instability, warning that any future collapse of Stormont could "gift wrap the union to Sinn Féin" by strengthening arguments for constitutional change and undermining confidence in Northern Ireland’s institutions.  

A central theme of his speech was the need for unionism to move beyond internal division and adopt a growth strategy.

Burrows appealed directly to unionist voters who have drifted to other parties, particularly Alliance, and argued that the UUP offers a more effective route to defending the Union while improving public services and delivering economic reform.

He repeatedly linked constitutional confidence with practical delivery, contending that support for Northern Ireland’s place in the UK will ultimately need to be articulated more strongly than to date. 

Speakers across the various fringes and NICVA’s conversation zones, focused their remarks on housing, infrastructure, child poverty and health reform, arguing that economic growth and stronger public services must be central to Northern Ireland’s future.  

A dominant theme was the importance of economic growth and infrastructure investment, particularly in housing and wastewater capacity as well as support for farmers

Speakers at a housing-focused fringe event argued that housing should be treated as essential economic infrastructure, highlighting its role in supporting jobs, productivity, health outcomes, and living standards. Concerns were repeatedly raised about wastewater infrastructure, which was described as a major barrier to housing development and wider economic growth.  

UUP Deputy Leader and MLA for Diana Armstrong spoke about her support for farmers and rural life as well as her passion in addressing women’s health.  

She highlighted that the Health Minister Robbie Butler, will soon publish Northern Ireland’s first Women’s Health Action Plan in the coming weeks to include a coordinated plan covering every stage of a woman’s life, with a Northern Ireland Endometriosis Clinical Pathway and clearer routes to assessment and referral at its heart. 

The conference also placed a strong emphasis on young people and working families.  

UUP representatives outlined proposals to improve housing access, expand apprenticeships, reform education, strengthen support for children with special educational needs, and improve childcare affordability. 

However, the underlying political message was clear: the UUP is seeking to position itself as the party that can rebuild unionism, stabilise devolution, challenge both Sinn Féin and Alliance, and offer a confident case for Northern Ireland remaining within the United Kingdom.  

The conference theme of “Stronger Together” was strongly woven throughout presenting the party’s vision for economic growth, public service reform, support for working families, and the future of unionism.

In his closing address, Jon Burrows MLA positioned the UUP as a party of “confident unionism” focused on leadership, reform and electoral growth.