Democratic Unionist Party
The DUP says Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris has prioritised RSE curriculum regulations on abortion services over cuts to youth services and an inadequate education budget. Carla Lockhart MP says he should respect the devolution settlement.
The description is machine-written from the release, without quoting it. Read the original for the party’s own words.
The description, topics and type are assigned automatically from the release, so they can be wrong. How they are assigned · Report a mistake · JSON
Releases from other parties whose text is closest in meaning to this one, found by comparing what they say rather than by topic labels. Close in meaning is not the same as agreeing.
TUV leader Jim Allister criticises the NIO's decision to impose access to abortion within relationships and sexuality education in Northern Ireland schools, regardless of school ethos, while saying schools face budget pressure. He reminds parents they can withdraw children from RSE and encourages…
Education Issue: NIO decision to add abortion access to RSE teaching Original release: NIO prepared to underfund education but impose left wing ideology when it comes to RSE (opens in a new tab)
TUV East Antrim spokesperson Norman Boyd says the Secretary of State's abortion announcement shows devolution is a sham, arguing Westminster is willing to act on abortion but reluctant to act on Protocol concerns. He questions whether London expects Unionists to return to devolution regardless of…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: Secretary of State’s abortion announcement trashes devolution (opens in a new tab)
UUP Education Spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA says he has been contacted with concerns about compulsory Relationships and Sex Education, which the Secretary of State wants introduced, and calls for any new curriculum to be created by Northern Ireland parents, children and teachers rather than…
Education Issue: Secretary of State's plans to introduce compulsory RSE in Northern Ireland Original release: Butler Responds to Concerns Surrounding the Introduction of RSE (opens in a new tab)
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison criticises the lack of a sitting Education Minister to negotiate with non-teaching school staff before their full strike on 16 November. He calls for fair pay for these workers and says he has raised pay and minimal disruption for pupils with special educational needs…
Education Economy and employment Issue: School support staff strike over pay on 16 November 2023 Original release: Disappointing no Education Minister to engage with non-teaching staff ahead of strikes, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
UUP education spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA urges the Secretary of State to act now on underinvestment in Special Educational Needs provision, saying shortfalls in SEN places in special and mainstream schools are failing children and families, with no Executive or Assembly in place.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Robbie Butler Urges Secretary of State to Act Now to Address Underinvestment in Special Education Needs (opens in a new tab)
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Connie Egan welcome the Secretary of State's confirmation that the UK Government will commission abortion services in Northern Ireland, but Bradshaw says no funding plan has yet been provided and calls for a clear roadmap.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Commissioning of abortion services in Northern Ireland announced by Secretary of State Original release: Announcement concerning the commissioning of abortion services welcome, says Bradshaw and Egan (opens in a new tab)