Steve Aiken

Jonathan Buckley MLA . Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

DUP to trigger Stormont Brake over proposed EU law changes

In 2016, the UK voted to leave the EU - but post-Brexit deals kept Northern Ireland in the EU's single market for goods.

Stormont bypassed as UK and EU agree new rules on AI, parcels and forced labour

Intertrade UK panel Dr Esmond Birnie, Suzanne Wylie, Baroness Arlene Foster, Angela McGowan, Kirsty McManus, Roger Pollen.

Trade body to meet GB businesses over Irish Sea border challenges

Two RAF Typhoon jet fighters shook homes over greater Belfast area while intercepting a suspicious aircraft.

RAF Typhoon fighters intercept suspicious aircraft over Belfast

The Europe Triathlon Cup - City of Derry - will have no athletes from Israel taking part in the event along the Foyle.

MLA backs removal of Israeli athletes from City of Derry triathlon

Comments on the future of the Union by former prime minister Gordon Brown have been rejected by a UUP MLA. Pic: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Former PM Gordon Brown's comments on the break up of the UK rejected

Steve Aiken was reacting to the Prime Minister's comments on the Windsor Framework

Windsor Framework is a 'nightmare' and Prime Minister is 'engaged in spin'

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

All passengers using ferrys between Britain and the Republic of Ireland will now require passports.

Unionists welcome ferry passport rule, but say Republic must tackle immigration

Pictured are Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows MLA, Andy Allen MLA and Dr Steve Aiken MLA with Dr Theresa Donaldson, chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners, and Joe O'Neill, CEO of Belfast Harbour, at Belfast Harbour

Belfast Harbour praised for 'building NI's future' with £1.3bn investment plan

Sir Chris Bryant was appointed Northern Ireland Secretary last week. Pic: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Government dismisses UUP claim Sir Chris Bryant is 'naive' over sea border

UUP MLA Steve Aiken argued that while the new Irish legislation addresses a legal gap, it does little to resolve what he described as Ireland's lack of military capability.

‘Irish Navy gains new legal powers but remains incapable’ says Aiken

Fresh Irish Sea border issues are continually arising at Stormont's Windsor Framework committee.

UUP MLA brands new NI Secretary's 'best of both worlds' comments 'naive'

Launching Ballyclare High School’s new Alumni Business Network are: Principal Dr Michelle Rainey; Michael McKinstry, Chair of the Ballyclare High Foundation; Sandara Kelson-Robb, Head of Alumni Relations.

Ballyclare High School officially launches new Alumni Business Network

DUP leader Gavin Robinson says Al Carns's resignation letter "is a significant intervention". Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Unionists say resignation backs up their fears over Labour's Troubles Bill

South Antrim MLA Steve Aiken visits the premises. Photo: Steve Aiken

Ballyclare business thanks community for support in wake of vandalism attack
A Ballyclare business that was targeted by vandals has thanked the local community for supporting a fundraiser towards repairing the premises.
Helena McManus

UUP MLA Steve Aiken .

Ulster Unionist MLA warns internal division 'achieves nothing but failure'

UUP boss Jon Burrows and deputy leader Diana Armstrong don't have the backing of a majority of UUP MLAs. Pic: Mark Marlow/PA Wire

MLA backs Burrows leadership amid UUP turmoil over Doug Beattie's resignation

Retailers have argued that overseas online sellers such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress benefit from an unfair advantage

Steve Aiken: Framework to blame for 'Alliance parcel tax'

ECNI chief Geraldine McGahey and NIHRC boss Alyson Kilpatrick have faced calls to quit after a UK Supreme Court judgement on their interpretation of the Windsor Framework. Pic: NI Human Rights Commission / YouTube

Equality quango chiefs lose confidence of unionist parties at Stormont

Sinn Fein won't say who President Mary Lou McDonald is blaming for "stopping" the A5 road. Photo: Mark Marlow/PA Wire

Sinn Fein deny Mary Lou McDonald blames unionists for A5 failure

A fresh row has erupted within unionism over the wisdom of Brexit and the Irish Sea border arrangements. Photo: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Fresh unionist row over Brexit as Jim Allister claims UUP has 'lost the plot'

Steve Aiken raised the issue with UK and Irish ministers at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in in Tralee, Co Kerry, saying the “spectre of Ireland’s wide open sea, air and cyber space” pervaded discussions.

UUP raise Irish ‘hypocrisy’ on defence at Tralee British-Irish meeting

Sir Keir Starmer and Irish premier Micheal Martin pictured with their respective ministers at the UK-Ireland Summit at Fota House in Cork. Photo: Cathal McNaughton/PA Wire

Aiken slams 'delusional' Dublin statement on UK-Ireland defence deal

Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Jayne Brady, who received a performance related pay rise without the standard appraisal process.

Ulster Unionists slam 'surprising' arrangements around Jayne Brady pay rise

Jon Burrows (right) shakes hands with Mike Nesbitt, after succeeding him as UUP leader.

Mike Nesbitt rejects UUP division rumours - saying 'there is no tension'

An announcement by roads minister Liz Kimmins 'coincided' with long-planned BBC special coverage, officials say. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

SF ministry discussed BBC coverage - but announcement timing 'coincidence'
Stormont’s infrastructure department had discussions with the BBC to “use its various channels and platforms” to highlight road safety – and a major policy announcement on driver licensing “coincided with this”, officials have said.
David Thompson

Roads minister Liz Kimmins.

Sinn Fein minister Kimmins urged to publish BBC correspondence

SF minister Liz Kimmins's announcement received blanket coverage on BBC, as part of a "as part of a day...dedicated to road safety". Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

SF roads minister accused of undermining Assembly over announcement

The USA's Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base, in Greenland (photo by Thomas Traasdahl / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP); Donald Trump has said he intends to acquire the whole of Greenland via 'negotiations'

'It is crazy when one NATO state must declare it will not invade ally'

Under the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland will be subject to new EU charges on small parcels. Photo: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Government seeks to 'minimise' impact of EU tax on small parcels entering NI

Ulster Unionist MLAs Jon Burrows and Diana Armstrong were unopposed in their bid to become party leader and deputy leader, respectively

Letter: I’m behind Burrows and Armstrong

An aerial view of Casement Park GAA stadium in Belfast. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

Casement Park: Site to be cleared but still no cash for stadium, say unionists

Small parcels being sent into Northern Ireland will face an EU customs tax, after Brussels scrapped an exemption for low-value items

MLA blasts 'Alliance tax' on small parcels - warning of millions diverted to EU

Steve Aiken has raised questions about the status of NI exports under the Windsor Framework.

Trump's threat to slap import taxes on UK goods is 'bluster' - Aiken

Jon Burrows, who is set to become the Ulster Unionist Party at the end of the month, seems to be a robust unionist with a moderate style. Picture: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.

Ben Lowry: New UUP leader cannot be faulted for never having been elected

UUP finance spokesperson Steve Aiken said that despite its £63 billion scale, it “fails to deliver the necessary transformation in key public services”.

All unionist parties against O'Dowd budget proposals

Mike Nesbitt got it right on big calls like backing Remain during the Brexit referendum, a UUP MLA says. Photo: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Mike Nesbitt got it right on the big calls like Brexit - Aiken

Mike Nesbitt is expected to stay on as health minister in the Northern Ireland Executive. Photo: Jeff Moore/PA Wire

Nesbitt expected to stay on as Stormont health minister

A grace period for the supply of veterinary medicines ends on 1 January - prompting concerns from industry and politicians.

Government accused of adopting a 'hope for the best attitude' on medicines

Catherine Connolly during her inauguration ceremony as Ireland's 10th president in Dublin Castle. Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA Wire

Unionists split on Republic's new president

Ulster Unionist MLA Steve Aiken has said it is appropriate that he attends the inauguration of Catherine Connolly as the new Irish president

Unionist MLA says it is appropriate for him to attend Connolly inauguration

Nationalists have urged deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to attend the inauguration of the Irish president. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Emma Little Pengelly won’t attend Connolly inauguration

UUP MLA Steve Aiken and DUP education minister Paul Givan place a poppy wreath at the site of the Nova music festival terror attack in Israel.

Israel trip critics 'should acquaint themselves' with the truth - MLA

Robbie Butler said while he would consider himself to be a supporter of Israel and a two-state solution, he thinks what has happened in both Israel and Palestine is “horrendous”

UUP MLA reveals he turned down invitation for trip to Israel

Economy minister Caoimhe Archibald has been accused of damaging international confidence in the NI economy over her stance on Israel. Photo : Liam McBurney/PA Wire

SF minister's policy 'risks investment and could cost thousands of jobs'

The Lords report, chaired by Lord Carlile, above, gave a damning assessment of the border

Owen Polley: Revealing framework report unlikely to make any difference

People wave Israeli flags and spray foam in celebration after the arrival of freed hostages at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, following their release from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, yesterday

Steve Aiken: With the security balance restored, time for lasting peace

DUP MLA Paul Givan told the chambe that 'the lands of Canaan were given to the people of Israel by God'.

MLAs clash over giving Donald Trump credit for peace deal

Kemi Badenoch's party says that it will "make whatever changes are necessary" to implement her policies UK-wide. Photo: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Kemi Badenoch's ECHR policy would ‘apply to all of the UK’

MLA Nuala McAllister has insisted she will not be backing down on her refusal to apologise (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

McAllister vows not to back down in apology stand-off after Assembly ejection

Regular claims of sexism are made during during debates at Stormont.

'Tactical' misogyny allegations by MLAs 'undermining real discrimination'

Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister was ejected from the Assembly over comments to the Deputy Speaker Steve Aiken.

Naomi Long backs MLA's challenge to authority of Stormont Speaker

The Alliance Party's Nuala McAllister has been asked to “acknowledge she was out of order” after “challenging the authority” of the Deputy Speaker

Alliance MLA asked leave assembly chamber after exchange with Deputy Speaker

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says the government will look at domestic human rights laws. Photo: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

MLA reiterates call for UK to seek ECHR reform after Government announcement

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