Category Archives: Northern Ireland

Boris Johnson dismisses leaked Irish border plans as ‘not quite right’

Posted on by

Hard border concerns heightened after media reports but PM refuses to explain his ‘very good’ Brexit plan

Boris Johnson has denied the UK government was proposing to install customs clearance zones several miles away from the Irish border after Brexit to get around the controversial backstop arrangement.

The leaked plan, which appeared in the Irish media and has heightened concerns over a return to a hard border, was described as “not quite right” by the prime minister. But in a series of media interviews on Tuesday he would not explain what kind of Brexit plan he would be delivering to Brussels in the coming days, describing it only as “very good”.

Continue reading...

Ian Paisley Jr criticised by NUJ for personal attack on journalist

Posted on by

North Antrim MP accused Sam McBride of lying as part of agenda to destroy DUP

Ian Paisley Jr has been strongly criticised by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) for personal comments he made about a reporter in Belfast.

The North Antrim MP accused the News Letter’s political editor, Sam McBride, of lying as part of “an agenda to attempt to undermine and destroy the DUP”. In a 750-word Facebook post, since removed, Paisley described the journalist as “incredibly immature, intellectually weak and a simplistic fellow”.

Continue reading...

Brexit: UK ministers talk up Irish border compromise as key to deal

Posted on by

Stephen Barclay and Priti Patel insist focus is on achieving agreement before 31 October

Two of Boris Johnson’s senior cabinet ministers have talked up the possibility of securing a Brexit deal through some divergence on the rules in Northern Ireland, as the government’s rhetoric showed fresh signs of shifting ahead of crucial talks next week.

With Johnson due to meet Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission president, on Monday, Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, and the home secretary, Priti Patel, accepted the Irish border was likely to be a key to any potential agreement.

Continue reading...

No 10 plays down hopes of Brexit breakthrough

Posted on by

Downing Street has no plans to publish proposals despite chance of border compromise

Downing Street has played down the prospect of an early breakthrough in Brexit talks despite hopes of a compromise on the Irish backstop, as Boris Johnson prepares to meet the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker.

There has been a renewed drive in No 10 for an agreement since parliamentarians passed a law aimed at blocking a no-deal Brexit on 31 October and twice rejected Johnson’s demand for a snap general election.

Continue reading...

European parliament to raise alarm over UK’s treatment of EU citizens

Posted on by

Leaked resolution says it will use veto against any Brexit deal without an insurance policy

The European parliament is to criticise the British government’s treatment of EU citizens living in the UK and insist it will refuse to ratify a deal that fails to include an Irish backstop or provisions that tie the UK into EU standards after Brexit.

A leaked copy of a resolution of the parliament due to be voted on next week lays out a series of concerns about the conduct of Boris Johnson’s government. The parliament has a veto on any deal agreed.

Continue reading...

EU looks to Northern Ireland-only backstop to break Brexit deadlock

Posted on by

EU trade commissioner says he believes ‘penny is finally dropping’ for Boris Johnson

The EU is pinning hopes on British negotiators reverting to the Northern Ireland-only backstop that was previously rejected by Theresa May as a threat to the constitutional integrity of the UK.

With Boris Johnson facing a choice between breaking his word and extending the UK’s EU membership beyond 31 October or bringing back a tweaked deal for a last-gasp vote in parliament, officials and diplomats have expressed hope that the prime minister will make a U-turn.

Continue reading...

Brexit: Boris Johnson poised to suspend parliament – live news

Posted on by

Last day of parliament also sees prime minister forced to publish no-deal plans

Opposition MPs were holding up signs in parliament saying “silenced”.

pic.twitter.com/Tvtk2yHhMq

“Silent acquiescence in the face of tyranny is no better than outright agreement.”#OurParliamentSilenced pic.twitter.com/DxlVXXWWjR

Bercow was loudly applauded by opposition MPs as he left the chamber. Labour MPs then chanted “shame on you!” to Conservatives as they exited.

Bercow being applauded by the Opposition. Labour MPs screaming “shame on you!” to ministers. These are absolutely extraordinary scenes.

Continue reading...

DUP’s Arlene Foster rules out seeking Westminster seat

Posted on by

Moves follows speculation Northern Irish party leader could stand in snap election

Arlene Foster, the leader of the Democratic Unionist party, has ruled out standing as an MP if a general election is called.

She is currently an MLA – member of the legislative assembly – at Stormont but the seat of Northern Ireland’s devolved government has been suspended since 2017 after the collapse of a power-sharing deal between the DUP and Sinn Féin.

Continue reading...

Nora Quoirin: body found in Malaysia confirmed as missing girl

Posted on by

Postmortem examination to determine whether further police investigation needed

A postmortem examination will be carried out to determine the cause of death of Nora Quoirin, 15, whose body has been found in the Malaysian jungle.

The London girl’s body was discovered on Tuesday by a local team of hikers just over a mile from the resort where she had been on holiday with her family. The find brought to an end a 10-day search which had involved more than 350 volunteers and drawn offers of support from around the world.

Continue reading...

Belfast bonfire goes ahead after clashes between youths and police

Posted on by

Three officers injured as officers are forced to retreat from pyre to mark 1971 mass internment

Youths in north Belfast have attacked riot police in a standoff over an unauthorised republican bonfire.

The officers withdrew in their Land Rovers from the New Lodge area on Thursday afternoon after coming under a hail of bottles, bricks, fireworks and other projectiles that injured three officers.

Continue reading...

Boris Johnson’s UK tour: did he show he could save the union?

Posted on by

PM set out to prove his pledge to the ‘awesome foursome’ but not everything went to plan

Boris Johnson pledged his commitment to the “awesome foursome” of the UK when he was elected Conservative leader, and has since embarked on a whistlestop tour taking in the north of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. But how successful were the trips? Visits that involved keeping the prime minister away from booing protesters and, in some cases, journalists? Have they allayed fears that Johnson’s hardline Brexit strategy and the continuation of the union could be mutually exclusive?

Continue reading...

Top lawyer hired to bring IRA double agent to justice

Posted on by
Appointment of Jonathan Laidlaw QC seen as sign of ‘serious intent’ to put spy known as Stakeknife in dock

One of Britain’s most prominent criminal lawyers has become the legal adviser for detectives investigating an army agent operating in the top ranks of the IRA, the Observer can reveal.

The spy, known as “Stakeknife” and once described as the “jewel in the crown” of British military intelligence, allegedly was implicated in acts of murder and torture while he ran the IRA’s internal security squad during the Troubles.

Continue reading...

UK on course for no-deal Brexit as Johnson rejects EU agreement

Posted on by

Crashing out could make a united Ireland more likely, Irish PM says

Boris Johnson has set the UK on an apparent course towards a no-deal Brexit by playing down the likelihood of any talks with the EU unless Brussels agrees to scrap the existing withdrawal agreement and Irish backstop, both of which it has ruled out.

The seemingly intransigent tone prompted Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, to warn that a no-deal departure could lead more people in Northern Ireland to seek a united Ireland.

Continue reading...

UK weather: heatwave to come after storm and gales

Posted on by

Met Office issues yellow warning for Scotland before sunshine breaks through later in week

Britain will experience a brief heatwave this week, but not before a storm brings torrential rain and strong gales to some areas.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for western parts of Scotland on Sunday and Monday, with thunderstorms, heavy rain and a risk of flooding. Rain and strong winds were also forecast to hit parts of Northern Ireland, north-west England and Wales on Sunday.

Continue reading...

Northern Irish unionists fear post-Brexit land grabs

Posted on by

Report identifies Zimbabwe-style seizures as key concern in the event of a united Ireland

Some unionists in Northern Ireland fear Zimbabwe-style land seizures by Irish nationalists if the region joins a united Ireland, according to a report that lays bare anxieties about any Brexit-fuelled breakup of the UK.

Farmers and others with Protestant and unionist backgrounds worry that Catholic and nationalist neighbours would claim their land in a cultural, economic and political takeover by Dublin – “the mother of all fears”, the report found.

Continue reading...

EU expected to reject outright Johnson and Hunt’s backstop plan

Posted on by

Next PM will be told in ‘no uncertain terms’ that axing backstop amounts to no deal

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt’s Brexit plan to axe the Irish border backstop from the withdrawal agreement will be rejected outright by the European Union, EU sources have said.

Informed sources say that it is doomed to failure and if the next prime minister goes to Brussels with such a plan, he will be told in “no uncertain terms” that it amounts to a declaration of no deal.

Continue reading...

Ursula von der Leyen signals she will not reopen Brexit talks

Posted on by

Nominee to lead European commission also says ‘precious’ backstop must be defended

Ursula von der Leyen, the nominee to lead the European commission, has signalled she will not reopen Brexit talks with the next British prime minister and stressed the “precious” Irish backstop must be defended.

She said she still hoped the UK would remain in the European Union, while indicating she had no intention to renegotiate the withdrawal deal agreed by Theresa May and EU leaders.

Continue reading...

MPs vote in favour of extending same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland by 383 to 73 – live news

Posted on by

Rolling coverage of the day’s political news, including the row over the UK ambassador’s leaked memos and latest on Tory leadership contest

Jeremy Hunt, the underdog in the Tory leadership contest, has told President Trump on Twitter his comments about Theresa May “disrespectful and wrong”.

1/2 @realDonaldTrump friends speak frankly so I will: these comments are disrespectful and wrong to our Prime Minister and my country. Your diplomats give their private opinions to @SecPompeo and so do ours! You said the UK/US alliance was the greatest in history and I agree... https://t.co/hNeBWmyyVN

2/2...but allies need to treat each other with respect as @theresa_may has always done with you. Ambassadors are appointed by the UK government and if I become PM our Ambassador stays.

MPs have voted to introduce same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland, unless the power-sharing executive is revived by 21 October, by 383 votes to 73 - a majority of 310.

Continue reading...

MPs vote to extend same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland

Posted on by

Government has said it will honour resounding result despite ministerial doubts

MPs have voted resoundingly to extend same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland, a plan the government has said it will honour despite ministerial doubts.

The Commons voted 383 to 73 to pass the amendment to a largely technical bill on the stalled Northern Ireland assembly, tabled by the Labour MP Conor McGinn, a longstanding campaigner for equal marriage in Northern Ireland.

Continue reading...