Belfasttelegraph.co.uk - Politics RSS Feed

Sinn Fein threats will stall justice talks, says Peter Robinson

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:56 GMT

Threats from Sinn Fein will stall negotiations on the devolution of justice powers, the DUP leader has warned..

DUP’s secret plot to oust Ian Paisley

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:04:49 GMT

Ian Paisley’s abrupt resignation as First Minister came amid secret DUP plotting to ease him out of office, a controversial new book claimed today.

Did this picture really end Ian Paisley’s reign?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:04:27 GMT

The Belfast Telegraph’s David Gordon on the tumultuous events that saw Ian Paisley lose the leadership of the DUP and, overleaf, an exclusive extract from his new book

Sinn Fein councillor critical of MEP Dodds’ dual mandate

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:48:37 GMT

Sinn Fein has challenged DUP MEP Diane Dodds for continuing to sit on Belfast City Council after her election as an MEP.

Second Tory MEP quits front bench on Lisbon U-turn

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:42:47 GMT

A second Tory MEP quit the front bench yesterday in protest at David Cameron's “confused” Lisbon Treaty referendum U-turn as eurosceptic dissent mounted.

Kelly report: the politicians respond: what six of them said...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:18:42 GMT

The report by the Committee on Standards in Public Life questioned whether it was possible to sit in two legislatures “and do justice to both roles”. It recommended the practice be phased out by 2011.

The main recommendations of the Kelly report into politicians' expenses

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:11:32 GMT

Expenses claims: now it’s Stormont’s turn

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:09:19 GMT

The relentless spotlight on politicians’ expenses has swung back to Stormont after radical proposals to clean up the Westminster system were unveiled.

Expenses clean-up: Stormont must act

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:06:06 GMT

The man behind a major review of Commons expenses has told the Belfast Telegraph that Stormont is the “last in the queue” to sort out its expenses system.

Tory leader David Cameron signals new softly, softly EU stance

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:27:10 GMT

David Cameron declared yesterday that he would not allow his premiership to be dominated by a “massive bust-up” with the European Union as he shelved any Europe referendum for at least five years.

DUP accused of delaying deal on devolved policing

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:53:32 GMT

Sinn Fein will crank up the pressure on Northern Ireland's power-sharing government if there is no deal to devolve policing and justice powers, a senior republican signalled last night.

Transfer talks making progress, say parties

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:09:00 GMT

A strong level of consensus and progress is being made during talks on school transfer involving the Alliance Party, DUP, SDLP and Ulster Unionists.

Purvis: Unionists 'lacking honesty' over Bill of Rights

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:12:24 GMT

There were angry clashes in the Assembly yesterday after a leading loyalist accused unionist parties of 'lacking honesty' in their opposition to a strong Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

Freddie Mercury impersonator ‘Flash Harry’ to contest by-election for UUP

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:08:07 GMT

Freddie Mercury impersonator Harry Hamilton — stage name Flash Harry — firmly entered the political arena last night when he was nominated to fight for a seat on Craigavon Borough Council.

Freddie Mercury impersonator ‘Flash Harry’ to contest by-election for the UUP

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:08:07 GMT

Freddie Mercury impersonator Harry Hamilton — stage name Flash Harry — firmly entered the political arena last night when he was nominated to fight for a seat on Craigavon Borough Council.

Cameron signals U-turn over Lisbon referendum

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:03:18 GMT

Conservative leader David Cameron has admitted his party is unlikely to be able to hold a promised referendum on the Lisbon Treaty once it has become law, paving the way for a policy U-turn that will infuriate Tory Eurosceptics.

Assembly backs the victims with call for a thorough investigation

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:51:08 GMT

The Executive has been urged to examine the scale of child abuse in Catholic Church and state-run institutions in the province.

Gordon Brown’s double whammy for BBC

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:50:19 GMT

Gordon Brown has delivered a double blow to the BBC as he questioned Jonathan Ross's salary — then revealed he preferred X Factor to Strictly Come Dancing.

Politicians hold Libya talks on compensation for IRA victims

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:40:06 GMT

A delegation of UK politicians were holding more talks in Libya today over compensation for victims of IRA violence in Northern Ireland.

Government trying to buy off DUP: Kelly

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:55 GMT

The Government last night sparked a row over the devolution of policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland after a letter outlining a side deal with the DUP was accidentally sent to Sinn Fein.

SDLP youth backing Ritchie

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:16:12 GMT

The SDLP's youth wing has backed Margaret Ritchie as the next leader of the party.

MP’s apology over payouts for housing his parents

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:54:26 GMT

Former minister Tony McNulty apologised unreservedly yesterday and promised to repay more than £13,000 in second home allowances which he claimed on a house where his parents live.

Northern Ireland parties at odds over new sticking point on policing

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:19:19 GMT

Fresh tensions have emerged between Sinn Fein and the DUP over the transfer of policing and justice powers.

Death penalty appropriate for mass murderers, says DUP's Campbell

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:25:14 GMT

Mass murderers such as Ian Brady have forfeited their right to life, Gregory Campbell said yesterday.

DUP accused of corrupting policing negotiations

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:21:15 GMT

Sinn Fein yesterday accused its Democratic Unionist partners in government of corrupting negotiations to devolve policing powers to Stormont by introducing another pre-condition to the move - this time on the issue of Orange parades.