The week outside Westminster
Round-up of the week’s news from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Ed Jacobs
Ed writes on devolved and local government. He works as a political consultant at the only Northern based consultancy, The Public Affairs Company. Ed has previously helped establish and run a student news website therundown.co.uk.
Mental health problems cost Wales £7.2bn
A report by the All Wales Mental Health Promotion Network has estimated that mental health problems cost Wales to be £7.2 billion.
Welsh public services face “significant pain”
Faced with the prospect of cuts worth £1.5 billion, Welsh public services could find themselves running out of money if they do not undertake urgent reforms.
Public sector fat cats come under fire
37 council chief executives in England received average payoffs of more than £250,000 each in the 33 months to last September, the Audit Commission has found.
St Patrick’s Day poll: Northern Ireland split over its future
A new St Patrick’s Day poll has found that views on whether Northern Ireland will still be part of the UK by its centenary in 2021 are sharply divided.
SNP in new smear row
The Scottish National Party are at the centre of another smear row, centring on the recent death of 18-year-old Labour party member Danus MicKinlay.
The week outside Westminster
The devolution of policing & justice powers to the Northern Ireland assembly was finally completed this week, in spite of opposition from the Ulster Unionists.
UUP-Tory alliance a “mongrel relationship”
Former UUP deputy leader Lord Kilclooney describes the UUP-Tory pact a “mongrel relationship”, while Conor McGinn calls it “an albatross around Cameron’s neck”.
PCS strike: “democratic right” or “militant behaviour”?
The decision by the Scottish parliament & Welsh assembly to suspend all business as a result of strike action by the PCS union has drawn criticism from the CBI.
Cameron accused of “sham marriage” with Ulster Unionists
The decision by the Northern Ireland assembly to vote in favour of the devolution of policing & justice powers to Stormont has received a largely warm welcome.