NEWS

Hundreds of heating oil customers are set to receive compensation after suppliers cancelled orders as prices surged following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) intervened amid concerns that some cancellations may have breached customers’ contracts, leaving households facing substantially higher costs to secure replacement fuel — or, in some cases, going without heating oil altogether. Around 800 affected customers have al

Chancellor John Healey delivers a growth speech at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry. (Pictures by Kirsty O'Connor / Treasury) Northern Ireland businesses could benefit from a major shift in how the UK Government directs investment, awards public contracts and assesses infrastructure projects, as Chancellor John Healey pledged to pursue economic growth “in every postcode”. In a wide-ranging speech on Monday (August 7), Mr Healey said investment in Northern Irela

Four of the UK’s farming unions are demanding an urgent halt to Brazilian meat imports into Great Britain, warning that the country could become a destination for products displaced from European markets when new antimicrobial rules take effect next week. The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), NFU, NFU Scotland and NFU Cymru have jointly called on the UK Government to prohibit affected Brazilian products of animal origin from 3 September, bringing Great Britain into line with new E

The First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly are pictured with Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Northern Ireland’s First and deputy First Ministers have pressed new Prime Minister Andy Burnham for urgent action on Stormont’s finances, warning that the current funding settlement is leaving the Executive struggling to properly plan, invest in and reform public services. Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly raised the issue directly with M

Ballymena Town Hall, and (inset) North Antrim MP Jim Allister Ballymena’s 400th anniversary has been marked at Westminster, with North Antrim MP Jim Allister tabling a House of Commons motion celebrating four centuries of the town and the generations of people who have helped shape it. The parliamentary recognition comes on a landmark day for Ballymena — exactly 400 years since King Charles I granted the charter on 25 August 1626 which established the foundations of the marke

Households across Northern Ireland are expected to receive more than £50 off their electricity bills this autumn, under plans to combine two cost-of-living measures into a single discount. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has confirmed her department is working to finalise an agreement with the Treasury that would increase the support from the approximately £30 previously announced under the NIRO Domestic Electricity Discount Scheme. However, the original discount had be

Victims and survivors of terrorism in Northern Ireland are being remembered today as the UK marks its first dedicated National Day recognising people whose lives have been changed forever by terrorist attacks. The new annual commemoration takes on particular significance in Northern Ireland, where generations of victims, survivors and bereaved families continue to live with the consequences of the Troubles and subsequent paramilitary terrorism. Secretary of State for Northern

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at 10 Downing Street. (Picture by Alecsandra Dragoi / No 10 Downing Street) Northern Ireland’s entire Executive has united to demand an urgent meeting with new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, warning that mounting financial pressures are threatening the ability of departments to plan and deliver public services. In a joint intervention signed by all Executive Ministers, Stormont leaders argue Northern Ireland is not being funded on a comparable bas

Aldi has hundreds of supermarkets across Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, yet Northern Ireland remains a conspicuous gap in its network — and a new competition ruling involving both Aldi and Lidl has put the reasons for that absence back under the spotlight. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally decided that Aldi, Lidl Great Britain and Lidl Northern Ireland should be brought under rules designed to prevent major supermarket chains using land

Immigration officers have carried out more than 100 visits targeting suspected illegal working across Northern Ireland in the first half of 2026, resulting in 123 arrests as enforcement activity reaches record levels. New Home Office figures show released today, Friday, August 6, Northern Ireland Immigration Compliance and Enforcement (ICE) teams carried out 103 visits across Northern Ireland during the first six months of the year — a 43% increase — while arrests rose by 16%

A new once-daily tablet that could improve the lives of people living with a serious inherited heart condition is being considered for use in Northern Ireland after receiving approval for NHS patients in England. Aficamten, marketed as MYQORZO, has been authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and simultaneously recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for adults with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic c

Ulster Unionist MLA Dr Steve Aiken The Windsor Framework continues to present practical challenges for consumers and businesses in Northern Ireland, according to Ulster Unionist MLA Dr Steve Aiken, who has highlighted a series of unresolved issues ranging from online shopping charges to steel imports and VAT on household energy. Speaking after a meeting of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee on Thursday (23 July), Dr Aiken said members examined several emergin

South Antrim MP Robin Swann South Antrim MP Robin Swann has renewed calls for a reduced rate of VAT for Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector after the UK Government announced fresh business rates relief for pubs, clubs and live music venues in England. The Ulster Unionist MP said the new measures for England highlight the need for similar support tailored to Northern Ireland, arguing local businesses continue to face rising costs while competing with significantly lower hosp

UK’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham Northern Ireland politicians have urged the UK’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, to ensure his promises of change deliver tangible benefits for people across the region, with the cost of living, trade and the future of the Union among the issues they want addressed. The calls came as the Prime Minister began his first full day in office by speaking with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, signalling a commitment to work

Inset: UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Households in Northern Ireland are set to receive financial support with electricity costs this winter after the UK Government announced plans to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills across Great Britain from 1 October. Because of post-Brexit VAT arrangements, the tax change cannot automatically apply in Northern Ireland, meaning the Northern Ireland Executive will instead receive comparable funding to ensure local households benefi

Millions of people using Buy Now, Pay Later services such as Klarna, PayPal and Clearpay are covered by new consumer protection rules from today (Wednesday 15 July), bringing the products into line with other forms of regulated credit for the first time. The changes mean shoppers will benefit from stronger legal rights if something goes wrong with a purchase, while lenders must now carry out affordability checks before offering Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) credit. The reforms af

Households across Northern Ireland who rely on home heating oil could benefit from stronger consumer protections after the UK’s competition watchdog called for new regulations to better safeguard customers during periods of price volatility. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recommended that the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive introduce a new regulatory framework for the heating oil sector, arguing that the current system leaves around 1.5 million U

Families looking to keep the cost of the school holidays down can now search for free children’s meals, discounted attractions and cheaper activities close to home. Offers already available in Northern Ireland include kids eating free at YO! Belfast, reduced admission and children’s meals at The Ark Open Farm, and discounts on food and trampoline sessions at Airtastic. A new postcode-search website brings the participating deals together, allowing parents to see what is avail

North Antrim MP Jim Allister, and inset, former Lagan Valley MP, Jeffrey Donaldson Questions have been raised over payments totalling almost £12,000 made by the Ministry of Defence to former Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson while he was serving as a sitting Member of Parliament. The issue has been brought into the spotlight by North Antrim MP and TUV leader Jim Allister, who said the payments were made for consultancy work connected to peace efforts in Cameroon at a time whe

Political fallout intensified across unionism on Friday night after a special edition of BBC Spotlight examining the double life of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson prompted renewed scrutiny over what was known, when it was known, and who, if anyone, failed to act. The programme, presented by investigative journalist Mandy McAuley and titled Politician, Predator and Paedophile, examined how one of the most powerful figures in modern Northern Ireland politics was able to ri