Latest releases
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29 releases
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O’Toole: People Deserve a Future Beyond Political Petulance
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA calls the DUP's latest stunt petulant and says health, schools and other public services are suffering while the parties remain without a budget deal at Stormont.
Constitutional affairs Original release: O’Toole: People Deserve a Future Beyond Political Petulance (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitments
SDLP Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Belfast section of the Eastern Transport Plan 2035 is long on aspiration and short on firm delivery commitments, questioning how the north-south Glider will be funded without an agreed budget. He also raises concerns about cuts to cycling…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Eastern Transport Plan 2035 Belfast portion publication Original release: O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitments (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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DUP will oppose carbon audit penalties on farmers – McIlveen
DUP agriculture spokesperson Michelle McIlveen MLA says her party will oppose Minister Andrew Muir's plan to tie the Farm Sustainability Payment to registering for the carbon audit project. She says cuts of 10% then 15% are a penalty, the project is underfunded, and calls on the Minister to think…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: DUP will oppose carbon audit penalties on farmers – McIlveen (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland
UUP spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA welcomes the proposed UK-EU SPS agreement but says it leaves customs and tariffs in Northern Ireland. He criticises Whitehall for ignoring the Union Customs Code parcel handling fee and calls for the Stormont Brake to be applied, and says applying parts of…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: EU handling fees on Northern Ireland parcels Original release: Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin will oppose any attempt to place British state forces beyond reach of accountability – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane calls on the British government to drop proposals giving the British Attorney General decisive authority over conflict-related prosecutions, after former DPP Barra McGrory warned of a two-tier justice system. Finucane also urges the Irish government to oppose the plans.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: British government proposals to give Attorney General final say on conflict-related prosecutions Original release: Sinn Féin will oppose any attempt to place British state forces beyond reach of accountability – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Unionist Unity and ‘O’Neill Must Stay’ don’t go together
TUV leader Jim Allister says talk of unionist unity is hollow without substance, arguing the DUP has not shifted its platform on the Protocol and questioning what unity would be for. He also says the DUP rejected his unity platform at the last Westminster election and accuses it of using unity as…
Constitutional affairs Issue: DUP's unionist unity message with Sinn Fein Original release: Unionist Unity and ‘O’Neill Must Stay’ don’t go together (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: DUP Will Pocket the Wage and Wreck the Work
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll responds to a DUP statement on its continued Executive engagement, saying the party will keep ministerial pay while using Petition of Concern to obstruct Assembly business. He cites the age of criminal responsibility, the Good Jobs Bill and the conversion…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP Stormont brake request on MLA wages and ministerial cars Original release: Carroll: DUP Will Pocket the Wage and Wreck the Work (opens in a new tab)
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DUP’s sham response beyond pathetic
TUV leader Jim Allister says the DUP's response today was pathetic and a sham, arguing that refusing joint appearances with O'Neill while keeping him in office is pointless. He contrasts this with Carla Lockhart MP's principled stance and accuses the DUP of clinging to office.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont brake request on EU goods regulations Original release: DUP’s sham response beyond pathetic (opens in a new tab)
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Statement from the Democratic Unionist Party
The DUP accuses Sinn Féin and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill of undermining the institutions after the Garvaghy Road blockade in Portadown, and calls for the Chief Constable to be transparent about threats, a fresh security assessment of dissidents and the Provisional IRA, and new…
Justice and policing Constitutional affairs Original release: Statement from the Democratic Unionist Party (opens in a new tab)
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Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey
Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey says the Drumcree standoff has backfired on republicans, criticising Gerry Adams’s intervention and Sinn Féin’s involvement, and argues the dispute exposes threats to the Orange tradition and highlights demographic changes in a united Ireland.
Community relations and legacy Immigration Issue: Garvaghy Road residents' protest against Orange Order march Original release: Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey (opens in a new tab)
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Buckley warns of further trade barriers
DUP Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley says sweeping EU reforms risk adding customs paperwork, tariffs and bureaucracy that could further separate trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, harming firms and supply chains, and calls for thorough scrutiny and a Unionist response.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: UK-EU trade agreement renegotiation Original release: Buckley warns of further trade barriers (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland left behind as plug-in solar launches in Britain
Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn criticises Northern Ireland being left behind as plug-in solar becomes legal in Great Britain, saying NIE Networks' G98/NI changes were promised to run in parallel. He calls on Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald to explain the delay and say when households here…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: plug-in solar launch in Great Britain Original release: Northern Ireland left behind as plug-in solar launches in Britain (opens in a new tab)
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Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On
Green Party Cllr Anthony Flynn and Lagan Valley Greens Co-chair Richard Gill call for the car dumped in the River Lagan to be removed and the site checked for contamination, such as a battery leaching heavy metals. They also demand written confirmation that the river will be clear next summer, and…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Dumped car in River Lagan near Lisburn council chamber Original release: Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On (opens in a new tab)
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North Down Councillors blast DUP and UUP over climate hypocracy
Green Party councillors Barry McKee and Lauren Kendall accuse the DUP and UUP of contradiction after Ards and North Down Borough Council approved its Climate Action Plan while also seeking a rethink of statutory emissions goals, which they say risks delaying progress.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Drumcree Parades Commission ruling Original release: North Down Councillors blast DUP and UUP over climate hypocracy (opens in a new tab)
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Cruel, Punishing Budget Won’t Deliver for Working Class People
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says the 2025/26 Budget, which he voted against, is another year of crisis management, citing homelessness, toxic algae in Lough Neagh and health waiting lists. He calls for mitigations to Westminster social security cuts and the two-child limit and for…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Cruel, Punishing Budget Won’t Deliver for Working Class People (opens in a new tab)
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Every Labour Election Pledge A Lie
People Before Profit's Gerry Harkin accuses Labour of betraying its Westminster election pledges, citing cuts to winter fuel payments and disability benefits and its stance on refugees and defence spending. He calls on Stormont parties to resist Westminster policies rather than facilitate them.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Original release: Every Labour Election Pledge A Lie (opens in a new tab)
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Harkin: Starmer Backsliding On Two-Child Policy Disproportionately Impacts Derry
PBP Cllr Shaun Harkin criticises Keir Starmer for refusing to commit to scrapping the two-child benefit policy, saying the stance disproportionately hits Derry and the North due to more households with children. He cites a CPAG report on the policy's effects.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Starmer refusal to commit to scrapping the two-child benefit policy Original release: Harkin: Starmer Backsliding On Two-Child Policy Disproportionately Impacts Derry (opens in a new tab)
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Support Grant Cuts Will Punish The Poor – Gerry Carroll MLA
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says proposed cuts to discretionary support grants will hit the poorest households, as the Department for Communities warns of a £111.2 million funding gap after the budget.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Department for Communities £111.2 million funding gap and discretionary support grant cuts Original release: Support Grant Cuts Will Punish The Poor – Gerry Carroll MLA (opens in a new tab)
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O’neill: People Before Profit Won’t Be Silent In Face Of Drastic Tory Cuts
PBP councillor Maeve O'Neill, for The Moor in Derry, says Tory budget cuts will hit local households hard and accuses Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance of voting with the DUP against PBP motions on rent freezes and a hardship grant. She vows continued opposition to Tory, Stormont and council cuts.
Public finance and taxation Local government Original release: O’neill: People Before Profit Won’t Be Silent In Face Of Drastic Tory Cuts (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: Tories Exploiting Dup Obstruction To Impose Economic Punishment
People Before Profit Ballyarnett candidate Damien Doherty accuses the Tory Secretary of State of exploiting the Stormont impasse to impose budget cuts, citing children's holiday meal grants, baby books and early years provision. He calls for strikes, people power actions and community resistance…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Stormont budget cuts outlined by the Secretary of State Original release: Doherty: Tories Exploiting Dup Obstruction To Impose Economic Punishment (opens in a new tab)