Politicians

Margaret Thatcher had a rocky start but won three elections and spent more than eleven years in Downing Street

Simon Hamilton: Uber-fication of politics has made us all impatient

Queen Elizabeth II pictured in June 2022, appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during celebrations of her platinum jubilee. Photo: Chris Jackson/PA Wire

Queen Elizabeth II tribute bid delayed by £60m Bangor revamp

The Treasury has offered Stormont an additional £500 million a year over three years

Esmond Birnie: Even if budget agreed, danger of fiscal groundhog day remains

Timothy Gaston MLA says foodbanks should be ended by cutting taxes and getting people into work. Pic: X / Trussell Trust

Executive parties silent on how they'd end food bank use after photo-op spree

Politicians have demanded action after it was revealed that the average civil servant has 14 days of sick leave every year – a significant increase on last year.

Demands for action over 14 sick days per civil servant every year

Belfast City Hall is to be lit in green to show support for International Safe Abortion Day next month.

DUP bid to stop Belfast City Hall being lit in support of abortion campaign

Fiadh Mulvihill (10) from Navan plays the harp on Donegall Place on August 8 during the fleadh; the road was one of a number closed to traffic (Jonathan Porter / Press Eye)

Businessman speaks out against pedestrian plans for Belfast city centre

MLAs from all Stormont's parties opposed a change to how much funding was divvied out to community groups.

Economist questions community sector employment schemes spend

To go around quaint villages and walk in the Pennines, where much is unspoilt, and see and hear the birds in a peaceful setting, with barely a house in sight, was lovely

Letter: We need to start taking the environment seriously

Intra-party competition will eventually expand the unionist vote

Letter: One single unionist party simply will not work

Morning View

Editorial: A great display of Orange culture on the Twelfth

Morning View

Editorial: Stormont's conversion therapy ban proposal needs careful scrutiny

The North West 200 last month; the event is getting £65,000 to attract global attention yet TourismNI has referred to it as happening in ‘the North’

Tourism funding 'must be used to promote Northern Ireland and not the North'

The marching the National Colors and service flags at the US consul general’s residence in Shaw’s Bridge, south Belfast, to mark 250 years of American independence, on Thursday June 25 2026, ahead of the July 4 celebrations. The band of Campbell College played the US national anthem. Hundreds of guests enjoyed a reception hosted by the US consul-general James Applegate in 27 Celsius heat. Pic Ben Lowry

Editorial: America’s 250th celebrated here in Northern Ireland

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston.

MLAs made a 'moral decision' when they charged their cars for free - Gaston

MLAs have been able to use free electric vehicle chargers at Stormont since 2015. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire

Stormont to rewrite electric car charging rules for MLAs after controversy
Stormont is to rewrite its electric car charging rules for MLAs in the wake of this week’s “double charging” controversy – potentially forcing politicians to pay up.
Iain Gray

UUP MLA Robbie Butler. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Burrows orders MLA on £79,200 salary to 'reimburse' Stormont over free charging

Alliance MLA David Honeyford has said public EV charging is more expensive and not as convenient.

Stormont car freebie: MLA highlighted 'expensive' public charging points

The Assembly has highlighted rules which prohibit MLAs profiting from public funds.

Stormont car freebie: Assembly says MLAs 'should not profit from public funds'

Despite already being paid a travel allowance, MLAs have been able to charge electric cars for free at Stormont. Pic: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Parties silent on whether MLAs are getting free fuel on top of travel cash

Letters to editor

Letter: History was suppressed by new liberal culture

Student-heavy University Street last year failed to reach the council's 15% threshold for Irish signs. Sinn Fein have called for it to be tested again, but it now transpires original applications came from one of the party's own councillors and a politician from the SDLP. Image: Google

Nationalist politicians behind failed Irish signs bid Sinn Fein wants run again

Helen Blythe has brought her campaign for Benedict’s Law to Northern Ireland

After losing her son, Helen Blythe fights for allergy reform in Northern Ireland

Proposals by Alliance MLA John Blair would place restrictions on the use of dogs for various hunting purposes. Photo Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Fears over Stormont fox hunting law's impact on gundogs and shooting

Morning View

Editorial: Unionist visit to US on behalf of NI good value for money

The Falls/Shankill Easter prayer walk in west Belfast (Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press); the Bishop of Connor - covering the city - has said not everywhere is blessed with the same freedom of religion as Northern Ireland

Bishop: 'We are blessed to mark Easter in freedom - not everyone is so lucky'

Northern Ireland's politicians have spoken of the importance of the Easter message to people today.

Politicians highlight Easter's message of hope and fears for Christians abroad
Politicians have been reflecting on the themes of hope and reconciliation in their Easter messages – as well as expressing concern about Christians across the world who still do not have the freedom to gather and worship openly.
David Thompson

Gregory Campbell says the end of the civil case against Gerry Adams must not mark the end of the pursuit of justice for victims of IRA terrorism. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Unionists call for truth and justice for victims of IRA terrorism

Orangefest is held in the grounds of Belfast City Hall every year - though the 2026 event will be a day late, moving to July 13.

Orangefest and US 250th bash get green light for summer at Belfast City Hall

A plume of smoke rises after a drone strike on a fuel tank at Dubai International Airport today (AP Photo). The conflict in the Persian Gulf region has caused oil prices to shoot up

'Pitiful': Verdict from NI on government's heating oil subsidy

Police today continued to be at the scene of two sudden deaths in Co Tyrone. Photo: PressEye

Omagh deaths: Politicians warn over speculation as police probe continues

Politicians take a tremendous amount of abuse and scrutiny in this social media age

Letter: MLAs are essential and should be paid accordingly

Jeffrey Edward Epstein was an American financier and child sex offender. He began his career as a math teacher at Dalton School, before entering the banking and finance sector

Letter: Degradation of society really began decades ago

Morning View

Editorial: Serious financial mismanagement by Stormont

Morning View

Editorial: The suspension of Gaston from Stormont a farcical reflection on MLAs

Toilets at Ballyholme Beach in Bangor are among those slated for extended summer opening hours. Photo: Rossographer

Too expensive to spend a penny? Cost concerns delay extended public toilet hours

Jon Burrows on the steps of the Parliament Buildings after he first signed in as an MLA at Stormont on August 4, 2025; he is now to be the new UUP leader

Letter: Which direction will Burrows take UUP?

Competitors in 2019's UK Pipe Band Championships. This year's Ulster Pipe Band Championships are to be held in a large park in Bangor, happening at the same time and just a few minutes' walk from an open-air eight-hour concert connected to the all-Ireland Fleadh. Photo: David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press

Ulster Pipe Band Championships play second fiddle to Fleadh in Bangor

Morning View

Editorial: Taxi costs raise big questions on public finances

A CGI impression of the proposed apartments. Image: Cregagh Developments

Demolition of Victorian building back on cards?

In September, Belfast City Hall voted to assign £1.9m of an underspend to go on Irish language signs over two years. Officials now say they have just £75,000 of an underspend to pay for their annual £1.1m hardship programme.

Belfast's £1m hole in hardship fund, weeks after giving £1.9m to Irish signs

General view of the chamber of the Northern Ireland assembly in Parliament Buildings, Stormont. NI’s political class should focus on things like the economy, not a border poll, says letter writer Walter Ellis

Letter: Politicians on both sides should be improving lives of NI population

Politicians should be prepared to talk about what a unified Ireland would look like, Irish deputy premier Simon Harris has said

Harris says people should be prepared to talk about shape of a new Ireland

President Donald Trump and Congress have failed to come to an agreement to keep US government programmes and services running, meaning that the federal government is now in shutdown.

Phelim McAleer: US lawmakers on both sides want government shutdown to drag on

Taoiseach Micheal Martin meeting UK prime minister Keir Starmer at Chequers on Friday for their ‘constructive’ talks

Unionists slam Dublin's record on Troubles as deal with UK on legacy draws near

Worshipful Master Alasdair Cooke, whose grandfather James McKee was killed in the IRA attack which took place at Tullyvallen Orange Hall in 1975, pictured at the Hall ahead of the 50th anniversary of the killings. Orangemen William McKee, James McKee, Nevin McConnell, John Johnston and William Herron were killed in the attack during a lodge meeting in Tullyvallen near Newtownhamilton, Co Armagh, in 1975.Picture date: Friday August 29, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Tullyvallen: MLAs says there was an alternative to IRA's sectarian slaughter

Rev Martin Smyth became MP after the IRA murdered his predecessor, the Rev Robert Bradford. The IRA also murdered another South Belfast representative, Edgar Graham MLA

Ben Lowry: Politicians like Rev Smyth served despite grave threat to their life

Picture of some of the damage at Mossley Orange Hall. (Photo: Trevor Clarke MLA Facebook)

Vandalism at Mossley Orange Hall condemned by unionist politicians

Belfast City Hall. Photo: Iain Gray

Belfast battles NI Water: Council says no 'robust evidence' sewers struggling

Morning View

Editorial: Politicians can’t ignore scale of people on benefits

DUP MP Sammy Wilson says the UK government would be perfectly entitled to introduce reciprocal checks on Irish travellers arriving at UK airports. Photo: Peter Powell/PA Wire

Irish passport checks for UK visitors 'undermining Common Travel Area' - DUP MP

One of the most disturbing aspects of all is how the House of Commons has failed in its duty as a deliberative assembly

Esmond Birnie: Not game over yet for abortion and ‘assisted dying’ legislation

Letters to editor

Letter: Questions for religious and political leaders on their role in Troubles

Councillor Paul McCusker missed 81.5% of his scheduled council and committee meetings from mid-December 2023 to the end of May 2025.

Belfast's absentee councillor: Politician missed 80% of meetings over 18 months

The past few months have seen various anti-immigration demonstrations take place in towns and cities across Northern Ireland, including Belfast (Picture: Jonathan Porter/PressEye)

Letter: Politicians ignored rising problem of immigration

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