The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party is the most senior position within the party ranks. Since 2026 the leader has been Jon Burrows MLA. List
No. Image Name Term start Term end Notes Deputy 1 Colonel Edward Saunderson 1905 1906 Also leader of the Irish Unionist Parliamentary Party 2 Walter Hume Long 1906 1910 Also leader of the Irish Unionist Parliamentary Party 3 Sir Edward Carson 1910 1921 Also leader of the Irish Unionist Parliamentary Party 4 The Viscount Craigavon 1921 1940 1st Prime Minister of Northern Ireland 5 John Miller Andrews 1940 1943 2nd Prime Minister of Northern Ireland 6 The Viscount Brookeborough 1943 1963 3rd Prime Minister of Northern Ireland 7 Captain Terence O'Neill 1963 1969 4th Prime Minister of Northern Ireland 8 James Chichester-Clark 1969 1971 5th Prime Minister of Northern Ireland 9 Brian Faulkner 1971 1974 6th and final Prime Minister of Northern Ireland 10 Harry West 1974 1979 11 James Molyneaux 1979 1995 12 David Trimble 1995 2005 First Minister of Northern Ireland 13 Sir Reg Empey 2005 2010 14 Tom Elliott 2010 2012 15 Mike Nesbitt 2012 2017 Leader of the Opposition 16 Robin Swann 8 March 2017 9 November 2019 17 Steve Aiken 9 November 2019 27 May 2021 18 Doug Beattie 27 May 2021 30 August 2024 15(2) Mike Nesbitt 30 August 2024 31 January 2026 Minister of Health Robbie Butler19 Jon Burrows31 January 2026Diana Armstrong
See also Ulster Unionist Party Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Ulster Unionist Party Presidents and General Secretaries
References