Jon Burrows MLA

01/09/2026

Concludes with “Northern Ireland has made great progress in recent years, and it is vital we never return to the dark days of the past. We must all work within the law, and in a spirit of mutual respect, to find a lasting resolution to this and to other sensitive issues.”

𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA has welcomed the Secretary of State's decision to order an independent judge-led review of the Parades Commission, but called for its terms of reference to be widened significantly.

Jon Burrows MLA said:

“An independent, judge-led review is the right course of action. It is what Portadown District itself requested, and I support that call. However, the review's terms of reference must extend beyond processes and procedures.

“It must examine the Commission's working practices, training and culture, and be explicitly tasked with recommending any necessary legal changes, including the creation of an appeals mechanism for Parades Commission determinations. It should also establish whether other flawed determinations have been made.

“The terms of reference should therefore be widened, the judge should be granted full access to the Commission's documentation, and the final report must be published in full within a clearly defined timescale. Reporting privately to the Secretary of State on procedural matters alone would not be sufficient.

“On the commissioners, I have been clear that confidence has been lost. Steps should now be taken to appoint fresh commissioners in a timely and orderly manner.

“There is a pattern here that extends beyond the present Secretary of State. Successive governments have shored up the Parades Commission and defended its processes, despite failures that were apparent to many of us long before they were identified by the courts. We now need a proper reset to ensure that the Commission commands confidence across the community.

“What has been exposed is not simply an isolated error. For years, there has been a perception that the Commission arrived at determinations it had already settled upon, regardless of the representations made to it. We now know that a commissioner privately described mediation on this parade as a non-starter. The Parades Commission is supposed to make decisions objectively, not engage in predetermined rubber-stamping.

“I encourage the Secretary of State to meet promptly with Portadown District. These are the men at the centre of this matter. They pursued their case through the courts and were vindicated.

“Finally, this is a time for cool heads and a clear focus on solutions. This parade needs to be resolved permanently and peacefully. Twenty-eight years of litigation and stalemate has served nobody, and another twenty-eight would serve nobody either. Northern Ireland has made great progress in recent years, and it is vital we never return to the dark days of the past. We must all work within the law, and in a spirit of mutual respect, to find a lasting resolution to this and to other sensitive issues.”

01/09/2026

Northern Ireland has the talent, resources and potential to be one of the best places in these islands to live, work, raise a family and build a business. But for too long, our politics has focused on managing division rather than delivering success.

In this article, I set out the work ahead: reforming Stormont, fixing our skills system, unlocking housebuilding, improving health and justice, growing tourism and ensuring our young people can build their futures here.

Decline, delay and dysfunction are not inevitable. Our people and businesses are ready for Northern Ireland to fulfil its massive potential. It is time for ambition, new leadership and real change.

01/09/2026

📈 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 🗳️

August was the busiest month for constituency casework my office has seen to date, with my team and I assisting people across North Antrim on a wide range of issues. 💼🤝

📊 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞:

🏥 Health: 20%
⚖️ Justice: 19%
🛣️ Transport/Roads: 15%
🏘️ Housing: 14%
💡 Utilities: 13%
📋 Social Welfare: 8%
📚 Education: 5%
📁 Other: 6%

Thank you to everyone who has contacted us throughout what has been an exceptionally busy August.

If you're a North Antrim constituent and there is an issue you think my office can assist with, please get in touch. 📞📩

📩 Email: [email protected]
📞 Phone: 028 2548 7100
🏢 Office: 76 Church Street, Ballymena, BT43 6DF

01/09/2026

🚌 𝗗𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗕𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲

The withdrawal of the Education Authority’s yellow bus service serving Dunseverick Primary School is really concerning for the school and rural families who rely on this important service.

Last Tuesday, we wrote to the Education Authority seeking urgent clarity on why the service has been withdrawn and what alternative transport arrangements will be put in place.

I have now also submitted an urgent question to the Education Minister asking what assessment was made of the impact on pupils and rural families, and what provision will be available for the 2026/27 academic year.

Alderman Sandra Hunter has engaged directly on the ground with Dunseverick’s Principal and I want to thank Sandra for bringing this issue to our attention and continuing to work with the school.

We will continue to press for answers 👇

01/09/2026

Thank you for following 💙

01/09/2026

The Troubles ravaged our country and devastated communities across Northern Ireland. The Orange family was particularly scarred by that campaign of violence.

Today, on Orange Victims Day, we remember the 343 Orangemen and one woman who were murdered. Each life taken left behind grieving families, friends, lodges and communities.

Many were murdered while serving in the security forces; others were targeted by sectarian hatred.

It is vital that we never forget the lives lost, the injuries suffered and the bereavement endured throughout the Troubles. We must never permit anyone to excuse terrorism, diminish its victims or rewrite the truth of our history.

Today, we remember all 344 victims and stand with their families and loved ones. They will not be forgotten.

31/08/2026

She left the Democratic Unionist Party in 2021 following the election of Edwin Poots as leader

31/08/2026

The legal test for holding a border poll is whether the Secretary of State believes that a majority of people in Northern Ireland would support constitutional change.

That was agreed in 1998 and put into law. When the change some hoped for hasn’t come - they are trying to reopen the border poll test a generation later.

There is currently zero basis for the Secretary of State to believe that a majority of people here support leaving the United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland faces real and urgent challenges: the cost of living, health waiting lists, inadequate childcare, failing wastewater infrastructure, a shortage of housing and too many young people leaving because the opportunities they need are not here.

That is where our political energy should be focused.

Sinn Féin may want to drag every debate back to the constitution, but endless border poll speculation creates uncertainty and distracts from the serious work of making Northern Ireland more successful. The media also want to keep litigating this issue - yet few people in the real world get out of bed in the morning or lose sleep at night about the tests for a border poll.

Our priority must be delivering better government, growing our economy and building a Northern Ireland in which people want to live, work, invest and raise their families. Let’s get to work.

31/08/2026

Kathryn Owen our UUP MLA candidate for South Belfast and Mid Down sets out her vision and priorities. There is work to be done - and Kathryn is ready to get on the with the job. Be the change Northern Ireland needs.