Politics

Belfast City Hall. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Irish signs survey goes back to residents after Alliance and Greens back DUP

Edgar Graham, an Ulster Unionist MLA and Queen's University lecturer at the time, was shot dead at point blank range by the IRA in December 1983

IRA’s ‘brutal murder’ of UUP man 40 years ago

Morning View

Editorial: The use of IRA informers saved lives and is to be celebrated

Jeff Dudgeon - who took the UK government to court to legalise homosexuality in Northern Ireland - has slammed attempts by Belfast City Council to introduce permits which he says would affect fundamental rights to free expression.

Veteran civil rights campaigner slams council permit scheme

The normally bustling Europa Bus Station in Belfast during the first 24-strike this month, on 1 December. A futher three strike dates have been announced before Christmas.
Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Three days of transport strikes ‘targeting smaller businesses’

Alfredo "Freddie" Scappaticci pictured at the 1987 funeral of IRA man Larry Marley. No prosecutions are to be pursued following the latest consideration of files from a major investigation into the top Army agent within the Provisional IRA.

Kenova: Muted reaction to decision not to prosecute 16 people

The DUP have attacked Alliance's record on helping Northern Ireland get a better post-Brexit trade deal. Photo: Colm Lenaghan /Pacemaker

DUP: Long should apologise over Protocol

Irish PM Leo Varadkar claims Sinn Fein aren't suitable for top ministries in the Republic of Ireland.

Varadkar: SF ‘unsuitable’ for Government

Jolene Bunting pictured at Laganside Courts in Belfast City Centre at an earlier hearing. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Bunting feared facing Britain First leader court is told

A row over precisely what role Dublin should have in internal NI affairs was prompted by a Westminster report asking for consultation with the Irish government on issues such as the election of the first and deputy first ministers.

Dublin: No comment on role in Stormont decisions

Morning View

Editorial: Time to replace Independent Reporting Commission with a new body

A Westminster report proposing a consultative role for the Irish government in changes to how Stormont operates has sparked a political row - with unionists saying it breaches Strand One of the Belfast Agreement - and Alliance saying Dublin involvement is legitimate.

Alliance back "legitimate" Dublin role - as NIO says no

Jim Allister MLA says a series of questions put to the Department of Communities over the Casement Park rebuild remain unanswered.

Allister: Department dodging questions on Casement Park

In 2021 the News Letter reported that the IRC was set up in response to the murder of Kevin McGuigan by suspected IRA members - but that the terror watchdog had still not made any mention of him in its reports six years later.

Latest paramilitary watchdog report 'avoids naming any terror group'

Baroness Kate Hoey tabled a motion of regret in relation to Windsor Framework regulations brought forward by the government

Unionist peers Windsor Framework motion fails

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron speaking during his first monthly question time in the House of Lords. Photo: House of Lords/UK Parliament/PA Wirent/PA Wire

Lord Cameron: Framework can meet DUP tests
The Foreign Secretary said that while he had nothing to do with negotiating the Windsor Framework, the deal was a “superb negotiation” and had moved the EU from its position that it would never re-open the Withdrawal Agreement.

Street preacher Ryan Williamson from Loughbrickland regularly uses an amplifier to preach outside Belfast City Hall on LGBT issues.

Council probe into preacher amplifier consultation

Public transport unions will inform Translink tomorrow (Wednesday) of further dates on which they will strike before Christmas.
Photo: PA/Liam McBurney

More public transport strikes before Christmas

Morning View

Editorial: The DUP and UUP are right to defend strand one

DUP MP Carla Lockhart has warned about any Dublin role in NI's internal affairs - and said that the NI Protocol is the "most significant governance defect within the institutions at present".

No Dublin role in NI's internal affairs – DUP MP

Lord Empey - who negotiated Strand One of the Belfast Agreement - has voiced concerns over a role for Dublin in discussions over how NI's first ministers and the Speaker of the Assembly are elected.

NI Committee report sets “very dangerous precedent” - Empey

DUP peer Lord McCrea in the Lords - Parliament TV

Peer's anger at Lords who 'want to humiliate unionists and destroy the Union'

NI Victims Commissioner Ian Jeffers at the NI Affairs Committee - Parliament TV

NI Troubles payments could take up to ten years to complete, MPs hear

Mr Beattie said his party has always called for a “factory reset” to the settings of the 1998 agreement, which received the support of over 71% of the electorate in a referendum at the time(Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Any changes to Stormont Executive ‘must be put to the people’ – Beattie

DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson has told party members that Northern Ireland needs a lasting financial settlement to address issues such as public sector pay.

DUP: Stormont collapse has “absolutely no bearing” on budget

Morning View

Editorial: Still time for London-based unionists to show they care about Union

The then first and deputy first ministers in September 2021 - Paul Givan and Michelle O'Neill. Pic: Jonathan Porter/PressEye

'Joint first ministers' rebrand among proposals aimed at restoring Stormont
A rebranding of the first and deputy first minister titles, and opening those posts to all of the parties, are among a number of proposals aimed at restoring the power-sharing executive at Stormont.

Michelle O’Neill commissioned the Bengoa Report, which made the same recommendations for hospital reform as past reviews, yet Sinn Fein is already campaigning to keep all local services open. The idea it will support what needs to be done to modernise the NHS is risible. Conor Murphy's budget was judged to lack "a coherent strategy and failed to set out its priorities properly" Pic: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker

Owen Polley: A restored Stormont will be a shambles unionists can easily oppose

Candles and tributes left following following an attack on Parnell Square East in Dublin where five people were injured, including three young children. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Sinn Fein accused of having a 'murky relationship' with law and order

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris MP,

Sinn Fein attempt to turn up heat over Stormont return is batted away by NIO

Morning View

Editorial: Racism row is a grisly royal saga that above all harms the Sussexes

King Charles, wearing a tie with patterns made up of Greek flags, speaks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as they attend Cop28 climate summit in Dubai yesterday. Mr Sunak did not meet his Greek counterpart over his critical comments about the UK, yet Leo Varadkar's anti British comments ever even draw a riposte from London, let alone a cancelled meeting. Pic: Chris Jackson/PA

Ben Lowry: Ireland has repeatedly chided UK yet it was Greece that was snubbed

The DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson wants the UK Covid Inquiry to look at the contrast in the PSNI's handling of Black Lives Matter protests and the Bobby Storey funeral - where thousands came onto the streets of west Belfast.

UK Covid Inquiry must ‘shine a light’ on PSNI and SF – Robinson

Image from Amnesty International of a rally at Belfast City Hall, welcoming refugees (asylum seekers are people who are applying for refugee status)

Belfast taking in more asylum seekers per head than almost anywhere in UK

Translink staff on the picket line at the Europa Bus Station in Belfast on 1 December 2023. Unite, GMB and SIPTU union members voted in favour of the strike over what they have described as a "pay freeze".
Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Bus and train strikes: Businesses report drop in takings and staffing problems

Baroness Kate Hoey says she hasn't seen enough progress for Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to sell a deal to his party on Stormont's return.

Allister says key test for deal can't be fudged

Melissa Brown and Stevie Conlan, two street musicians in Belfast

Buskers react to plans which would make them buy permits

DUP MLA Diane Forsythe. Photo: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

SF 'cynically exploiting' Dublin riots to present as a law and order party

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie says a meeting to address party issues would deal with the party's 'nuanced' message on the Windsor Framework. Pic: David Thompson

Leaked UUP meeting about ‘nuanced’ sea border message

A bus and car on fire on O'Connell Street in Dublin city centre after violent scenes on 23 November. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Dublin riot: 'SF is almost obliged to write-off that section of the electorate'

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris has declined to explain why he can intervene on a wide range of issues - but not the pay claims of striking public sector workers. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

NIO silent on ‘pic-n-mix’ interventions on strikes and other issues

General image of cannabis plants

'Community concerns' over blueprints for legal cannabis factory in Co Antrim

The Carrickfergus branch of Lidl. Pic: Google Maps

Green light for new supermarket and drive-through cafe

Morning View

Editorial: The Telegraph newspapers must not fall to the Abu Dhabi bid

The PSNI have told the News Letter that the force has handed over documents to the UK Covid Inquiry. Photo: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker.

PSNI silent on Storey funeral documents

Ulster Unionist leader won't rule out opposition - saying a return to the Executive is dependent on the Programme for Government. Pic: David Thompson

Beattie: Executive return is conditional

Northern Ireland’s chief constable Jon Boutcher has been pressed over delays in the release of information to inquests into deaths during the Troubles.
Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

PSNI chief pressed on information delays for legacy inquests

Translink staff on the picket line in Crumlin as 24-hour strike that got under way at midnight is expected to cause extensive disruption across the public transport network on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Ulster at a standstill: Bus and train drivers striking for 24 hours

UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron and the EU Vice President Maroš Šefčovič met on Wednesday, where they discussed "implementation" of the Windsor Framework. Photo: European Commission.

London “not serious” about restoring equal citizenship – Allister

RE'IM, ISRAEL - NOVEMBER 30: Sara Netanyahu (C) talks with families of victims while visiting a memorial display of photos of people killed during Hamas's attack on the Super Nova festival at the site on November 30, 2023 in Re'im, Israel. Israel and Hamas agreed to a further extension to a truce that has lasted nearly a week, which promised the release of more Israeli hostages held in Gaza, as well as the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

Belfast council meeting 'was simply an Israel-bashing exercise' says unionist

Former chancellor and veteran Labour politician Alistair Darling has died aged 70, a spokesperson on behalf of his family said

Alistair Darling’s ‘calmness in a crisis’ remembered following his death aged 70

Crowds of people walk past destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis on November 28, 2023. In Khan Yunis, where the population nearly doubled following the arrival of the displaced from the northern Gaza Strip, war-weary Palestinians remain sceptical about the Israel-Hamas deal to exchange hostages for prisoners. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)

Belfast council passes joint motion declaring Israel guilty of genocide

An Alliance Party flyer in support of the permit proposals

Evangelical Alliance adds to Christian objections over permit roposals

The UK must stand with Taiwan against intimidation by China, UUP peer Lord Rogan has told the World League for Freedom and Democracy conference in Taipei.

Peer presses government on teacher pay disparity with rest of UK

Victims, legal representatives and supporters at the High Court in Belfast at an earlier hearing. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Judge reserves verdict in legal challenge to Legacy Act