Unionist unity raises its head again
Internal unionist navel gazing following last weeks’ Mid Ulster by election has been exacerbated by allegations that the DUP and UUP last year held serious negotiations over a possible full merger.
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.
Sinn Fein to oppose vote to restrict abortions
Sinn Fein have pledged to oppose a vote at Stormont that seeks to restrict access to abortions. The amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, tabled by the DUP and SDLP, would make illegal abortions that are carried out outside of NHS institutions.
Devolved governments unite to call for change in economic policy
The devolved administrations have united to call on the UK government to adopt Vince Cable’s call for much greater expenditure on infrastructure to boost growth.
Sinn Fein retain Mid Ulster on record low turnout
Sinn Fein has won the Mid Ulster by-election with a sharply reduced majority on a record low turnout, with almost half of the electorate not voting at all.
Tony Blair compares SNP to Ukip
Tony Blair has launched a scathing attack on those advocating an independent Scotland, comparing them to Ukip as a movement that seeks to pin the blame for the problems of the world on someone else.
Unionists losing confidence in police, claims DUP leader
Amidst a highly charged by-election campaign in Mid Ulster, the first minister has warned that Unionists in Northern Ireland are losing confidence in the police force.
Patients likely to lose out in independent Scotland
If Scotland achieves independence from the UK, patients north of the border requiring specialist surgery elsewhere in the UK could have to go through the same process as if they were travelling to a European Union state, leading, some argue, to delays in treatment and medical costs having to be paid by the patient.
Northern Ireland: Are the unionists running scared in Mid-Ulster?
As the political circus continues to analyse to death the results of the Eastleigh by-election, in Northern Ireland the unionist unity candidate for next week’s Mid-Ulster by-election is being accused of running scared.
Increase in A&E waiting times in Scotland
New figures reveal that almost 10% of Scottish patients have been made to wait longer than the four hour target to be seen in Accident and Emergency Departments.
Welsh Tories propose tax cut for the wealthy
The Welsh Conservatives are aping their colleagues in Westminster by calling for tax cuts for the very highest earners at a time when living standards are falling for the majority.