NI unionists

Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O'Neill (left) and President Mary Lou McDonald at Belfast City Hall for the local election count. Divided unionism will return republican politicians. Photo Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Edward Cooke: A divided unionism cannot deliver for the unionist people of NI

The republican threat was that if they failed to get satisfactory terms, the IRA would kill more people. Indeed, they had already bombed Canary Wharf in 1996, killing two people including a Pakistani newsagent, to persuade John Major to drop his demand for prior decommissioning of weapons before talks could start

Belfast Agreement @25: As a Trimble advisor I opposed the deal - Graham Gudgin

Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris heads up the Northern Ireland Office, which has declined to reiterate its previous opposition to joint rule over NI.

NIO asked why it won't repeat previous rejection of joint authority

The News Letter in August 1776 reports the Declaration of Independence of July that year. The Scots of Ulster had taken to America their grudge at being treated as second class citizens by the Anglo/British establishment

The Ulster-Scot independent spirit has a long pedigree

Boris Johnson pictured during a press conference in Downing Street earlier today.

Spotlight: The last time Boris Johnson made a promise to unionists he broke it