Brexit

Economy minister Caoimhe Archibald comments on the draft UK-EU deal on food and agriculture goods at Stormont in Belfast. Picture date: Tuesday November 3, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: David Young/Press Association

Expected UK-EU deal on agri-goods prompts familiar divisions

Peers have accepted an update to railways law in Northern Ireland

Rail law update prompts fresh debate on NI-GB ‘divergence’ post-Brexit

28th September 1912: Leader of the Unionists and founder of the paramilitary Ulster Volunteers Edward Carson (1854 - 1935) signing the Solemn Oath of the Covenant in Belfast, in protest against the Home Rule Bill. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Preparations under way for Ulster Day celebrations of signing of Ulster Covenant

Orange Order Grand Master Harold Henning has asked the new Prime Minister to fulfill his promise to 'bring back hope' to the UK with particular regards to Northern Ireland.

Orange Order urges Burnham to fulfill promise to 'bring back hope'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking to the media outside St Aidan's Parish Centre in Wigan, as voting began in the Makerfield by-election. Peter Byrne/PA Wire

‘Disappointed’ Farage issues plea to voters after by-election loss in Makerfield

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage looked set be in line for celebrations, as early election results saw Labour and the Tories haemorrhage hundreds of councillors across England while Reform, the Greens and Liberal Democrats all made gains. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Elections: Reform surge shows British voters 'sick of the old order', say TUV

Morning View

Editorial: Brexit has caused little shift on NI border views

An man puts an Aspirin tablet into his mouth. Community pharmacies have warned that 100 medicines including aspirin are in short supply for NI.

'Fundamental risk to NI medicines - over 100 in short supply'

Peers have raised concerns that the government's plans to toughen up deportation rules for foreign offenders will not apply equally in Northern Ireland

Claim Windsor Framework will not derail deportation plans 'gives no comfort'

A vet injects a new Bluetongue vaccine into 'Doreen' in 2008 in Norfolk, the first animal in the UK to receive the vaccine. The chair of Stormont's Agriculture Committe fears EU rules which could block 40% of animal medicines from Northern Ireland will also impact Bluetongue vaccines – despite assurances by government to the contrary.

Agriculture Chair fears Brexit rules will block Bluetongue vaccines

Sir Keir Starmer was forced to clarify his position on joining an EU customs union after his deputy David Lammy praised how membership had boosted growth in other countries.

Starmer forced to clarify position on EU customs union

Veterinary and agri-food organisations are pressing the government for an urgent meeting about a feared 40% cut in supply of veterinary medicines to NI which will impact pet owners and farmers.

Peers warn about major loss of veterinary medicines to NI

The Northern Ireland agri-food sector and all animal and pet lovers face a potentially crisis situation in January seven weeks if they lose the supply of 40% of all veterinary medicines. Pictured are puppies from a litter of German shepherd guide dogs born last year.

Assurances on vets’ medicines don’t match concerns, says MP

Lord Paul Murphy also said some small businesses in Britain simply “don’t bother” trading with Northern Ireland anymore

Post-Brexit rules ‘something you wouldn’t make up unless you had to’

Hilary Benn appeared at the NI Affairs Committee

Benn pressed to act amid concerns of a 'potential collapse' in motoring industry

A sign a Larne Port highlighting unionist concerns at cross community approval being suspended in the Belfast Agreement in order to allow Stormont to approve the NI Protocol. The Protocol has been superceded by the Windsor Framework, but unionists remain deeply concerned about the underlying issues.

Unionists back Lords’ finding that Windsor Framework 'impossible' to navigate
The DUP and UUP have strongly backed the findings of House of Lords committee which found the Windsor Framework oversight is “impossible” to navigate and called for “urgent action” from government on the matter.
Philip Bradfield

Alex Burghart, who is the shadow secretary for Northern Ireland, was speaking to the News Letter from the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this week. Picture Tuesday October 7 2025

Northern Ireland will quit ECHR like rest of UK, says top Tory

Sir Edward Carson (1854 - 1935) led the Northern Irish Resistance to the British Government's plans for Irish Home Rule, pictured here signing the Ulster Covenant at Belfast City Hall, Ulster. Photo: PA

‘Ulster Day parades surge as people keen to promote British identity’

Hundreds of people are to take part in a re-enactment of the signing of the Ulster Covenant in Tandragee and Carrickfergus this weekend - in part to reassert their Britishness in the face of the Irish Sea Border.

Ulster Day Parades: Hundreds to sign Ulster Covenant in re-enactment

DUP councillor Henry Reilly speaking at the protest in Newry city centre on Saturday against council plans to adopt City of Sanctuary status.

‘City of Sanctuary Plans do not include cost to ratepayer’

Dealing with the legacy of Northern Ireland’s troubled past, relations with the EU and Gaza are set to discussed during a meeting between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Irish Premier Micheal Martin today. The pair are pictured here during a business roundtable at the Albert Dock in Liverpool in March this year.

PM and Taoiseach to discuss EU relations, Northern Ireland and Gaza

Stormont’s deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has called on the Government to act over the Windsor Framework’s 'bureaucracy for bureaucracy sake'.

Stormont deputy First Minister presses Government over Windsor Framework

Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds (left) and editor of The Spectator Michael Gove take part in a Q&A on the future of the UK-EU relationship and recent negotiations with the bloc, at the Library Room in the Old Queen Street Cafe, Westminster. Picture date: Wednesday August 27, 2025. PA Photo.

'Farage accusations of treason over EU food deal are nonsense'

The government said it wants to get a permanent deal with the EU on food and drink agreed in the next 18 months, as it sets out its stall ahead of talks later this year.

Government targets permanent food deal with EU

A landmark survey by the Federation of Small Businesses has found that the Windsor Framework is causing "widespread disruption" to trade with GB, with 58% of businesses reporting "moderate to significant" challenges.

FSB says Windsor Framework causing ‘widespread disruption’

The front page of The Windsor Framework policy paper published by the UK government, following the announcement that European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have struck a deal over the Northern Ireland Protocol. Picture date: Monday February 27, 2023.

Windsor Framework 'overly bureaucratic' says Gavin Robinson

Former Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick

Jenrick ‘coalition’ remark puts pressure on Badenoch
The Conservatives have been told to "come clean" on whether they want to do a deal with Reform UK, after Robert Jenrick vowed to bring together a "coalition" to fight Labour.
By Caitlin Doherty, Deputy Political Editor

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Gardeners in NI still struggling to buy seeds and saplings, say MPs

Unionists have given a mixed reaction to news that Government has once again extended the date on which it will remove Brexit-related customs checks on parcels coming from GB. A sign a Larne Port highlights unionist concerns at cross community approval being suspended in the Belfast Agreement in order to allow Stormont to approve the NI Protocol.

End of Irish Sea Border parcel checks pushed out yet again by Government

The Northern Ireland Protocol could result in all US goods coming into Northern Ireland being subject to EU taxes - while GB would be totally exempt, due to Brexit. A sign a Larne Port highlights unionist concerns at cross community approval being suspended in the Belfast Agreement in order to allow Stormont to approve the NI Protocol.

Northern Ireland Protocol may impose EU taxes on US goods

Brexit fall-out risks cutting off 50% of veterinary medicines from NI which could impact on companian animals and commercial livestock. Pictured is a puppy from a litter of nine German shepherd guide dogs in Somerset last year.

Vets urge action to prevent 'devastating' medicine shortage

Secretary of State Hilary Benn has hailed the first anniversary of the deal which ended the unionist boycott of Stormont - The Safeguarding The Union agreement.

Benn hails Safeguarding deal anniversary, despite implementation doubts

DUP leader Gavin Robinson placed a great emphasis on improving the health service in 2025

DUP and UUP New Year Messages focus on health service

TUV leader Jim Allister and party MLA Timothy Gaston

TUV New Year message: DUP deal left Union weaker

Stormont Assembly members will vote later on whether to continue with Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trading arrangements

Stormont MLAs to vote on extending Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trading deal

Jamie Bryson arrives at the High Court on Monday for his legal challenge to stop a Stormont vote on the Windsor Framework. Pic: Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Legal bid to stop assembly vote on Windsor Framework dismissed

A sign a Larne Port highlights unionist concerns at cross community approval being suspended in the Belfast Agreement in order to allow Stormont to approve the NI Protocol. Picture: June 2022.

Full details of bill which would 'restore NI's place in the UK'

DUP MLA Peter Martin has blamed the sea border for a collapse in foreign firms interested in investing in Northern Ireland.

Sea border blamed as foreign firms looking to open in NI down 70%

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir is pictured with Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

UFU fears of EU blocking 50% of vet medicine from NI

Jim Allister speaking recently at Stormont

TUV 'unjustly shunned by BBC and UTV in election debates'

Summer sunshine at Belfast City Hall: Northern Ireland’s private and public sectors have joined together to target investors in the Republic of Ireland with the offer of dual market access to both Great Britain and Europe.

Northern Irelan targets Republic investors with dual market access

Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson (left) and TUV leader Jim Allister on the steps of Stormont. The pair will address a public meeting together next week about the DUP deal with government on the NI Protocol. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Allister and Bryson to address public meeting on DUP deal

A loyalist band and protestors make their way through Markethill during a protest event against the Irish Sea Customs Border, and 'two-tier policing' on 5 May 2021.Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye

Court summonses for bandsmen in wake of anti-Protocol protests

From left: BVA President Malcolm Morley, BVA NI Branch Senior Vice President Esther Skelly-Smith, new BVA NI Branch President Sharon Verner and BVA NI Branch Junior Vice President Kirsten Dunbar

Vets’ leader to continue fight against pending EU medicine ban

Lord Dodds making his address in the Lords late on Monday night

Nigel Dodds: Protocol could see NI drift apart from GB on immigration

Mark Tait, a leading figure in the haulage sector, does not believe the DUP-government deal on the NI Protocol will ease any of the red tape imposed on his industry.

Haulage chief's concerns despite DUP-UK government deal

DUP Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly strongly defended her party's decision to go back into government after it was criticised in an essay by senior party figures Lord Nigel Dodds, Lord Maurce Morrow and Sammy Wilson MP. Photo: BBC NI Sunday Politics.

DUP sidesteps criticism from party figures who say Sea Border remains

DUP MLA Edwin Poots said he would like to have cleaned the clock of TUV leader Jim Allister had he not been the new Speaker of the Assembly.

Edwin Poots would have ‘cleaned the clock’ of Jim Allister

Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) President David Brown has called for more clarity across a wide range of issues in the new DUP deal - but has welcomed the progress made by the party. Photo: MCAULEY_MULTIMEDIA

UFU seeks clarity across a wide range of issues in DUP deal

The wreckage of the bus

Former teenage soldier recalls the IRA bomb that destroyed the bus he was in

Irish premier Leo Varadkar said he has “some difficulties” with the new rules that will allow for smooth post-Brexit trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, but that they do not cross any red lines.

DUP deal does not cross red lines despite some difficulties – Varadkar

A delegation of TUV members is canvassing for ex-MEP Ben Habib as he fights to secure the Westminster seat in the Wellingborough by-election in Northamptonshire.

TUV joins Habib on Westminster by-election campaign trail

Jamie Bryson speaking during a public meeting at Moygashel Orange Hall on Thursday February 1, 2024. PA Photo.

Bryson tells public meeting that Irish Sea border remains after Stormont deal

The UK and EU flags

NI businessmen voice skepticism things will return to pre-Brexit days

The scene today, Thursday, 1 February, 2024, where Lord Dodds of Duncairn outlined how many unionists remain deeply worried about the operation of a border in the Irish Sea despite the government’s deal with the DUP over a return to Stormont. Pictured speaking is Northern Ireland Office minister Lord Caine, who said the government did not recognise there was 'anything like a trade border' in the Irish Sea

Lord Dodds says 'fundamentals' of Windsor Framework remain in place

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