NEWS

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

Stormont Parliament Buildings, Belfast. (Photo: Nigel McDowell/Ulster University) A major new study has found that people across Northern Ireland want any future debate on Irish unity to be driven by evidence, planning and practical answers rather than political rhetoric, with the experience of Brexit continuing to shape public attitudes towards constitutional change. Research published on Wednesday, July 1, by Ulster University suggests the conversation around Northern Irela

Ten years after the Brexit referendum reshaped British politics, Northern Ireland remains deeply divided over whether the historic vote has ever truly been delivered. Marking the 10th anniversary of the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) and Alliance Party have set out starkly different visions for Northern Ireland’s future, highlighting how Brexit continues to define political debate across the region. While the TUV argues Brexit rema

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds during a meeting with businesses to discuss the Government’s new UK-EU food and drink deal, which it says will remove the vast majority of GB-NI checks. Northern Ireland businesses moving food and drink products from Great Britain could soon see millions of pounds in extra costs wiped out under a new UK–EU agreement aimed at dramatically reducing post-Brexit trade barriers. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds visited Northern Ireland this w

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir speaking to more than 200 international guests at a St Patrick’s Day networking event in Brussels Northern Ireland’s agri-food sector has a “huge advantage” thanks to its dual access to both European Union and Great Britain markets, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has said during a high-profile visit to Brussels. Speaking to more than 200 international guests at a St Patrick’s Day networking event, the Minister positioned Northern Ireland as uniquely p

North Antrim MP Jim Allister, speaking in Parliament A new European court ruling on gender recognition has sparked fresh constitutional concerns in Northern Ireland, with TUV leader Jim Allister warning it could override a landmark UK Supreme Court decision. The North Antrim MP has raised urgent questions with the UK Government after the European Court of Justice ruled in favour of a transgender woman in the so-called Shipova case—potentially setting up a legal clash with do

Businesses across Northern Ireland are being urged to prepare for sweeping changes to the way food, animals and plants move between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the European Union, as negotiations continue on a new UK-EU trade agreement designed to cut red tape and speed up trade. The UK Government says the proposed Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement could make agrifood trade “easier, cheaper and quicker”, potentially transforming supply chains for farmers, r

North Antrim MP Jim Allister North Antrim MP Jim Allister has accused the UK Government of presiding over a “great deception” on the Irish Sea border, telling the House of Commons that promises made two years ago have unravelled into what he described as growing EU control over Northern Ireland. Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on Tuesday (28 January), the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader marked the second anniversary of assurances from the previous Conservativ

Concerns have been raised at Stormont that no public authority is currently responsible for toy safety in Northern Ireland, leaving a critical gap in oversight for products designed for children. MLAs on the Assembly’s Windsor Framework Committee have warned that they were unable to scrutinise proposed EU toy safety rules after no evidence was provided by the UK Government, Northern Ireland departments or local councils — because none of them hold formal responsibility for th

Tray bakes – a staple of local bakeries across Northern Ireland – have become the latest focus of criticism over the continued application of EU law in the region, according to North Antrim MP Jim Allister. In a statement issued this week, the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader said that a bakery in his constituency has been forced to relabel its tray bakes to comply with EU allergen requirements that go beyond those required under UK law. Mr Allister said the situation