Robbie Butler

The former Maze prison site near Lisburn. Photo: Mark Rainey

‘Discussion and care’ needed over future of Maze Prison site

Ulster Unionist Party leader-elect Mike Nesbitt speaking to members of the media outside Stormont. He said he feels "very confident" that he has got the support of "the vast majority if not all" of the UUP's elected representatives. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Nesbitt is new UUP leader as party officers face uncertain future

Mike Nesbitt looks set for an effective coronation as the next Ulster Unionist leader. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Vote Mike, get Mike – UUP set for coronation

Ulster Unionist Party leadership favourite Mike Nesbitt. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Former leader backs Mike Nesbitt as next Ulster Unionist Party boss

The UUP’s Mike Nesbitt pictured in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings, Stormont.Photo by Jonathan Porter /Press Eye

Butler endorses Nesbitt return as UUP leader

East Antrim UUP MLA John Stewart is expected to run alongside Robbie Butler for the UUP leadership. Photo: Liam McBurney, PA

Robbie Butler and John Stewart in frame for UUP top jobs

Lagan Valley MLA Robbie Butler appears to be the most likely candidate to replace Doug Beattie - if he wants the job. Pic credit: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

UUP leadership vacancy could result in a 'huge embarrassment'

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Doug Beattie. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Beattie quits as UUP boss after first offering resignation in July

The Maze Prison will never be a shrine – but there is a “story to be told” about the Troubles-era prison, according to the DUP Education Minister Paul Givan

Givan: No IRA shrine at Maze - but site has ‘story to be told’

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn and Fleur Anderson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State are pictured in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh where they met with local Orangemen and watched the annual Twelfth July parade.

Twelfth sparks calls for unionist co-operation - as Hilary Benn attends parade

Lagan Valley count GE2024

UUP vote up, but neck and neck between DUP and Alliance for Lagan Valley seat

Sorcha Eastwood ballot papers at Lagan Valley count centre. Photo: Mark Rainey

Sorcha Eastwood polling strongly as Lagan Valley ballot papers are sorted

Michelle O'Neill, Vice President of Sinn Fein speaks with PA Media at Parliament Buildings at Stormont in Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Unionists slam O'Neill claims that UK never acts in interests of NI

The BBC Northern Ireland party leaders debate: From left, DUP leader Gavin Robin, Sinn Fein MP Chris Hazzard, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Alliance leader Naomi Long and UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler. Photo: BBC

SF pressed on why O'Neill missed three out of four leaders' events

Tara Mills hosting the BBC NI Leaders' Debate in Belfast with (left to right) SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood, Sinn Fein Chris Hazzard, Justice Minister and Alliance leader Naomi Long, DUP Leader Gavin Robinson, and Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader Robbie Butler

NI politicians clash on health, Stormont stability and Irish unity in TV debate

DUP leader Gavin Robinson taking part in the BBC NI pre-election leaders' debate. BBC NI

NI party leaders BBC debate: parties divided over health budget concerns
Political leaders in Northern Ireland have clashed over health in a televised debate as the country prepares to go to the polls next week for the general election.
Mark Rainey

First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill leaves the Clayton Hotel in Belfast after giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 inquiry hearing. Picture date: Tuesday May 14, 2024.

SF ‘strategically shielding’ Michelle O’Neill from election interviews

Pictured at the UTV election debate with moderator Vicki Hawthorne are (L-R) Robbie Butler, Naomi Long, Colum Eastwood, John Finucane and Gavin Robinson.

Brexit fall-out, finances and a unified Ireland dominate leaders’ UTV debate

Jonathan Buckley, DUP Westminster candidate for the constituency of Lagan Valley in Northern Ireland in the village of Royal Hillsborough

DUP hoping to hold off Alliance in Lagan Valley as new MP to be elected

Health Minister Robin Swann

Spending cuts in healthcare service will still leave a deficit: Swann

Jonathan Buckley, DUP candidate for Lagan Valley, Emma Little-Pengelly, Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister, and Gavin Robinson, interim DUP leader, at DUP headquarters, East Belfast, this afternoon

DUP select MLA Jonathan Buckley for Lagan Valley constituency battle

Robbie Butler MLA joins the picket line as union members employed by the Education Authority (non-teaching staff) go on strike

Chairman of Stormont disability group says he supports special school strike

An anti-Protocol rally in Dromore Co Down this Friday will be addressed by Ann Widdecombe, Ben Habib and Kate Hoey and Jim Allister. It is a joint TUV-Reform Party event.

NI Protocol: Ann Widdecombe speaking at TUV rally this Friday

John O'Dowd, pictured while campaigning for repairs to potholes in the Lurgan area a number of years ago.

Potholes: Almost 5,000 compensation claims in past year due to road defects

Mike Nesbitt's new role as Assembly Private Secretary to The Health Minister would leave him poised to take over as health minister if Robin Swann wins a Westminster seat. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Nesbitt to shadow health minister as election looms

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill during the pre-match national anthems at Hampden Park. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

'Get over yourselves' message from Northern Ireland to the Hampden Park boo boys

Public sector workers walk from the picket line at the Royal Victoria Hospital to a rally at Belfast City Hall, as an estimated 150,000 workers take part in walkouts over pay across Northern Ireland. Picture date: Thursday January 18, 2024. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Do the Stormont parties actually support the public sector strike?
Stormont political parties have spoken very supportively of the Northern Ireland wide public sector strikers - but do they actually support the strike itself?
Philip Bradfield

DUP MLA Gordon Lyons branded Sinn Fein's attempt to elect a speaker today as "a stunt".

SF attempt to restore assembly fails: DUP brands move 'a stunt'

A new housing development. Photo: Alison Bagley

Northern Ireland's planning system 'delaying investment in the economy'

UUP MLA Robbie Butler. Photo: Jonathan Porter/PressEye

'Political pantomime' must end now that talks have concluded: Robbie Butler

People react as they hear the news of the release of 13 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023(AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Unionists welcome the release of hostages by Hamas

It has been clear for a while that he wants the DUP to return to Stormont, and his speech to his party conference last month was explicit about that. Pic Arthur Allison, Pacemaker

Ben Lowry: Yes, our editorial on Stormont was blunt - but for a reason

The ongoing abstention from Stormont is not only harming prosperity, opportunity and wellbeing but pushing a negative unionism

UUP deputy leader: Unionists are saying a resounding yes to Stormont

Parents with empty prams in front of the Houses of Parliament in London earlier this week, in support of Israeli families who have had children taken hostage by Hamas in the October 7 terror attacks. Peace can be achieved in the Middle East if all those involved are prepared to put their children first, writes UUP MLA Robbie Butler

Letter: Israeli and Palestinian - all children deserve to live in peace

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 6th May 2022 -

Gerry Carroll - People Before Profit at the Northern Ireland Assembly Election Count at Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast

Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Gerry Carroll says People Before Profit stands in solidarity with Palestine

Morning View

Editorial: Welcome signs of unionist harmony amid concerns over Irish Sea border

Doug Beattie at council election manifesto launch

Doug Beattie defends UUP's track record on outreach to nationalists

The last ever results in the AQE academic selection test in Northern Ireland are in the post.

Last ever AQE test results are already in the post

Firefighters at work

Doubt cast on army’s ability to replace NI firefighters in event of a strike

Aisling Reilly

Sinn Fein MLA tells unionist: 'Will your intervention be in Irish?'

Rev Paul Dundas

New book charts the ties between Lisburn parish and the former ‘killing fields’ ...

John and Michaela McAreavey

Politicians unite in condemnation of video mocking McAreavey murder

Crowds take a pause at Stormont

Massive gathering passes off without a hitch

While the Union Flag will not be flying above the starting point at Stormont last night organisers had begun festooning the platform next to Parliament Buildings with red, white, blue and orange

The stage is set — it’s ‘The Big One’ to celebrate Northern Ireland’s 100th

Robbie Butler MLA. Picture: Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Editor defends newspaper cartoon branded ‘offensive and provocative’

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 6th May 2022 -

Mike Nesbitt - Ulster Unionist Party at the Northern Ireland Assembly Election Count at Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast

Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

ELECTION 2022: Ex-UUP boss calls on party to be patient with Beattie leadership

Doug Beattie

ELECTION 2022: Beattie still ‘100% a leader' as he is sixth in first-pref votes

Roy Beggs in a pre-election message this week

ELECTION 2022: East Antrim – The Beggs dynasty comes crashing down after four de...

PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 6/5/2022: The Alliance Party's Sorcha Eastwood celebrates being elected for the Lagan Valley constituency at the Jordanstown count with the party's MP, Stephen Farry.
PICTURE BY STEPHEN NDAVISON

ELECTION 2022: Lagan Valley – Double joy for Alliance as all five winners unveil...

Lisburn Civic Centre in the Lagan Valley constituency.

Election 2022: Unionism has eyes on four seats in Lagan Valley

Critics of the bill say it will elevate integrated schools above other schools

UUP to oppose integrated bill, but undecided on DUP veto

Letter to the editor

Alliance councillor comes across as condescending

The Integrated Education Bill is set for the further consideration stage at Stormont next Wednesday

DUP still seeking backing of other MLAs in attempt to veto Integrated Education ...

Ruth Dudley Edwards, the author and commentator, who writes a column for the News Letter every Tuesday. She is author of 'The Faithful Tribe: An Intimate Portrait of the Loyal Institutions' and her most recent book is 'The Seven: the lives and legacies of the founding fathers of the Irish republic'

Ruth Dudley Edwards: Doug Beattie’s engagement policy gets a boost from Alliance

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was speaking at a rally in Dromore, Co Down on Thursday night.

Donaldson and Allister strike a deal to ‘cooperate’ at election