Stormont Talks

Michael Gove would personally lead the Stormont talks and replace the backstop with a “Stormont lock”. Could it work?

Brian Walker on June 6, 2019, 3:23 pm

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Even as the belief grows that the race to be the next prime minister is Boris Johnson’s to lose, the contest is actually hotting up. His main challenger at the moment is Michael Gove the champion who betrayed Boris last time and is now doing his best to differentiate from Boris as the Brexit candidate with realism. In an atmosphere of near hysteria about the future of the Conservative party, Gove has injected a dangerous note of realism by admitting …

Arlene’s Valentines Day Massacre

Daithi McKay on February 14, 2018, 10:01 pm

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Today could not have turned out any bigger a mess for the incumbent DUP Leader and would-be First Minister. If sources are to be believed the Fermanagh MLA was ready to sign off on a deal which would have seen 3 Bills introduced : An Irish Language Bill An Ulster Scots Bill A Joint Respect Bill What has happened since the weekend to put the Stormont train off the rails? A DUP Group meeting on Monday morning, 3 days of …

The Westminster deal has a confidence building effect which should allow the DUP and SF to confront their differences honestly – and soon, in the Assembly

Brian Walker on June 27, 2017, 11:46 am

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The DUP deal at Westminster is reasonably secure. The prospects for a Stormont deal seem up in the air and due for postponement until the autumn. The best hope for today is that Sinn Fein may feel they’ve got just enough to continue the negotiations back in the Assembly pending the creation of an Executive in the autumn. This looks like requiring a period of temporary direct rule. .On Nolan I’ve just heard Malachi O’Doherty opining that Sinn Fein might …

#StormontTalks: The Assembly still stands

David McCann on December 23, 2014, 2:36 pm

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From the BBC Prime Minister David Cameron said he was delighted a workable agreement had been reached. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said it “sets out a plan for financial and welfare reform.” First Minister Peter Robinson said he would be recommending the document to his party executive. Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said no party was able to give the agreed proposals 100% endorsement as “they all have their own processes”, but he said he would ask …