In the 2014 general election Borrows retained his seat and, upon request from the Prime Minister John Key, moved into the role of Deputy Speaker, replacing Eric Roy who had retired from the role and Parliament. Borrows was granted the style "The Honourable" for life by the usual convention for outgoing Ministers. Borrows broke ranks with his party in 2017 to openly condemn what he called the "discriminatory" policies of US President Donald Trump, and reiterated his support for Syrian and Muslim refugees.