David Taylor

Building A Better Northern Ireland For All Of Us - Secure Within The Union Vote David Taylor No 1 on Thursday 5th May ⁦@uuponline⁩ ⁦@UUPNA⁩

Paint attack on Strabane War Memorial Ulster Unionist Councillor, Derek Hussey, has expressed dismay and anger that, once again, the War Memorial in Strabane has been attacked. Alderman Hussey, who represents the Derg Electoral Area on Derry and Strabane District Council, said: “It has been reported that once again the War Memorial has been attacked, this time with the KAH paint sprayed across the Memorial apparently occurring sometime on Monday. “This is not the first time that this War Memorial has been desecrated and indeed previously Wreaths have been taken from the site. “I find myself dismayed at such an attack and angry with those who have perpetrated it. “This War Memorial, and others throughout our country, commemorates the supreme sacrifice of brave men and women from throughout all sections of our community.  Those who laid down their lives in conflicts across the globe in defence of democracy and the freedom we enjoy today.” Alderman Hussey concluded by asking anyone with any knowledge of this disgraceful attack to contact local police or Crimestoppers.

WATCH: Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA speaking in the Assembly today following the Dunmurry car bomb attack. “It is incumbent on us all to condemn terrorism completely and encourage people to give support to the PSNI.”

Ulster Unionist Party Leader comments on Dunmurry Incident   Jon Burrows MLA said: “Last night’s car explosion in Dunmurry was another display of cowardly criminality, almost certainly committed by dissident republicans. It should be utterly condemned by everyone. “Whilst these terrorists have been heavily degraded by effective law enforcement, they retain some capacity and still harbour the intent to maim, murder and destroy. “The PSNI are often the target of these dissident groups, but these groups don’t care who else gets hurt or traumatised. “They are desperate, depraved and morally bankrupt gangsters seeking to drag Northern Ireland back to darker days. They will fail, just as their predecessors did. “My thoughts are with everyone affected by last night’s car explosion, those evacuated from their homes, the victim of the car hijacking, victims of terrorism in the past who will be traumatised by these scenes, and the brave PSNI officers and staff, and their families, who live under the threat of dissident republicans every day. “I wish the PSNI every success in bringing those responsible to justice and in dismantling the remaining dissident republican gangs. “Terrorism is wrong. It was always wrong. It will always be wrong.”

Lord Empey Accuses Sinn Féin of Hypocrisy Over £50m Defence Investment Ulster Unionist peer and former Economy Minister Lord Empey has hit back at First Minister Michelle O'Neill's reaction to the UK Government's £50 million defence investment package for Northern Ireland, accusing Sinn Féin of rank hypocrisy on the issue of arms and economic development. Lord Empey said: “As a former economy minister, I have become increasingly shocked at the cavalier attitude of Sinn Féin to actual or potential inward investment. The Cantor Fitzgerald fiasco was totally avoidable, and good quality jobs were sacrificed on the altar of some irrelevant political ideology. The response of the First Minister to the announcement from London of £50m towards strengthening and developing the defence sector in Northern Ireland was typical of the hypocrisy Sinn Féin is displaying. “Michelle O’Neill says she would rather the money was spent on something else. What had she in mind? I would remind her that her party had no difficulty in supporting and justifying the actions of the IRA, who trawled the world looking for arms and explosives that they used to kill and maim their fellow Irishmen and Irish women. “It is also the case that their actions in Londonderry drove the US company Raytheon out of the City with the loss of many highly paid jobs. “Nobody wants to see weapons deployed and people killed as a result. But the only way peace and stability can be maintained in this turbulent world is to deter the many tyrants who control some of the most powerful militaries that can threaten democracies. “Currently, Ireland is a laggard in Europe, expecting other European countries and the United Kingdom to defend its sea and airspace while making no meaningful contribution itself. “I think the time has come to call out Sinn Féin’s dangerous approach to the running of our economy. Their record with regard to weapons and their use leaves them in no position to point the finger at others and adopt a holier than thou attitude.”

🎥 WATCH: Burrows presses case for Northern Ireland at Westminster

Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA met with Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch and her Westminster team today, alongside our Westminster representatives Robin Swann MP, Lord Elliott, Lord Empey and Lord Rogan. Jon outlined his vision for a more prosperous Northern Ireland, urging the Official Opposition to support a VAT cut for the hospitality and tourism sectors, take decisive action on the Irish Sea border, and ensure fairness in legacy matters for veterans and former RUC officers, including backing amendments proposed by Unionist parties. The Ulster Unionist Party will continue to make the case for Northern Ireland at every level.

Today marks what would have been Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday 👑💜 A lifetime of unwavering service, quiet strength, and devoted duty that touched every corner of the Commonwealth and beyond. Though she is no longer with us, her legacy of grace, resilience, and steadfast commitment continues to inspire us all. We remember her with gratitude and affection.

WATCH: We’re building a rejuvenated Ulster Unionist Party that will deliver competent, credible leadership and common sense policies that actually serve the people of Northern Ireland. Time to fix what’s not working and deliver for our people. Be part of the change and join the Ulster Unionist Party: uup.org/Join

WATCH: Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA is heading to Westminster tomorrow to fight for Northern Ireland’s farmers and families.

Family farms are the beating heart of rural Northern Ireland and the Ulster Unionist Party will always stand up for them🐄🐑🐓🚜

Sinn Fein need to read the Belfast Agreement again; our government is under no obligation to do anything of the sort at the behest of their repetitive demands. Growing our economy, improving public services & addressing cost of living challenges are what we need to be focused on.

Armstrong urges UK Government to act now on soaring fuel costs Ulster Unionist Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA has called on the UK Government to take urgent action on fuel costs, urging ministers to wake up and smell the coffee at the pumps. Diana Armstrong MLA said: “It’s time for the Government to wake up and smell the coffee at the pumps. Working families and businesses across Northern Ireland are being hammered by sky high fuel costs, and it’s time for a meaningful cut in fuel duty to bring real relief. “I have constituents who are filling up their vans every other day just to get to work sites right across the country. They’re burning through money at the pumps hundreds of £££, and this isn’t sustainable. Higher transport costs will inevitably feed through to consumers in the form of increased prices for goods and services sooner rather than later. “The hard truth is that a huge portion of what drivers pay for fuel is simply tax, fuel duty plus VAT. While global factors play a role, the Government has been taking more than its fair share for far too long. The only ones consistently profiteering here are the Treasury, not hard working people trying to earn a living. “We need the UK Government to implement a realistic, long term plan for a substantial cut in fuel duty immediately. Working families and businesses need support. These are the people who are being punished simply for going out to work and keeping our economy moving. Freezing or reversing duty increases is no longer enough; the Government needs bold action now."

Ulster Unionist Party Leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA has welcomed confirmation that Special School summer schemes will go ahead. Jon Burrows MLA said: “I warmly welcome the confirmation from both the Ministers of Health and Education that the Summer Schemes at Special Schools will go ahead this summer. These schemes provide vital structure and respite for children with complex additional needs and their families, and their continuation is absolutely the right outcome. “Today I met with officials from the Education Authority to press for an urgent resolution and made clear the imperative of finding solutions immediately. I know from direct engagement that our Health Minister has been working hard to get this issue resolved following the EA’s distressing announcement yesterday. “However, this situation should never have arisen in the first place. The EA’s decision to announce the cancellation of these schemes on a Thursday, just before the Easter recess, was completely unnecessary and caused avoidable distress and uncertainty for families and schools. “This episode highlights the pressing need for a comprehensive review of the EA’s workforce arrangements and training, to ensure we have adequately trained staff available to support our most vulnerable children throughout the academic year, including during the summer period. Their request for nurses to support SEN summer schemes clearly stems from issues within their current staffing model. “I have therefore written to the Education Minister to formally raise this matter and to call for action on long term planning in this area. “The Ulster Unionist Party will continue to stand up for children with special educational needs and their families. We must learn from this episode and put in place the proper systems to ensure such uncertainty is never repeated.”

#OnThisDay in 1982 the IRA murdered Norman Hanna, 28, Clerk/ex UDR soldier `76, shot carrying lunchbox in front of wife & daughter, 4, after arriving for work by car at MOT Centre, Rathfriland Rd, Newry, N Ireland. 2 murderers on a motorbike; 1 returned to fire further shots #OTD

Our roads are at breaking apart. Infrastructure projects are overdue. So why was £𝟭𝟯𝟯.𝟵 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 in infrastructure funding been returned instead of fixing what communities rely on every day?

Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA has continued his engagements across Northern Ireland, meeting communities and members to share his vision for the future of Northern Ireland and for unionism. Yesterday, Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong MLA hosted Jon in Fermanagh, where they met with senior representatives from leading local business Encirc in Derrylin. The visit was followed by a well attended public meeting at the Unionist Hall in Enniskillen, where both Jon and Diana addressed party faithful and members of the public.

I have made it clear to the Prime Minister - it would be unacceptable for the Irish Government to have any veto over UK Troubles Legislation, and it is apparent from the number of amendments the new NI Troubles Bill is flawed. @uuponline @UUPWestminster

Today we pause to reflect on one of Northern Ireland’s darkest days, the Kingsmill Massacre. 50 years ago, 10 working class Protestant men were brutally murdered as they returned home from work. Only Alan Black survived, despite being shot 18 times. This sectarian atrocity remains one of the most shocking and cruel acts of the Troubles, leaving a lasting scar on the local community in South Armagh. Today, the Ulster Unionist Party remembers: 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝘆𝗮𝗻𝘀 - 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 - 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗺𝗮𝗻 - 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻 - 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗺𝗮𝗻 - 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 - 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗠𝗰𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 - 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗰𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 - 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿 - 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻

Today, Ulster Unionist Party representatives Mike Nesbitt MLA, Cllr David Taylor, Jon Burrows MLA, Robbie Butler MLA, Cllr Kyle Savage, Cllr Roy Crawford, Cllr Alan Martin, Vice Chair Jim Nicholson, former MLA Danny Kennedy, former councillors Sam Nicholson and Jim Speers attended Bessbrook Town Hall, to remember the Kingsmills Massacre of 5 January 1976. They stood with Alan Black the sole survivor, with the bereaved families, and with the wider Bessbrook community to remember the victims of the Kingsmills massacre on this harrowing anniversary. There has been no justice. There has been no apology. We remember. We bear witness. And we will not forget.