# UK Government
This year
2023
# westminster
Tearing up Northern Ireland legacy Bill risks five-year delay, UK minister warns
Johnathan Caine holds out the prospect of further changes to the proposed law in a bid to meet the concerns of victims and survivors.
# UK Government
Sunak orders investigation into Zahawi over tax dispute penalty
The Conservative Party chairman and former chancellor paid a penalty to resolve a tax dispute.
# gender reform bill
Explainer: Why is the UK government trying to block a Scottish gender reform Bill?
An attempt to block the Bill under a never before used order has been branded a ‘nuclear option’.
Last year
2022
THE MORNING LEAD
Ahern sought rubber bullet ban to put pressure on UK to restrict their use in Northern Ireland
Internal controversy broke out over the purchase of 2,000 baton rounds in June 1997.
# Northern Ireland
Varadkar to prioritise Northern Ireland power sharing when he becomes Taoiseach
Leo Varadkar said the Government had “not for a second” given up on the matter despite the failed attempt to restore the institutions.
# Northern Ireland Protocol
Irish MEPs 'positive' about resolving Northern Ireland Protocol issues
The UK had previously signalled it would act unilaterally on the Protocol.
# UK
Gavin Williamson resigns from UK government after bullying allegations
The former cabinet minister is facing a series of inquiries into his conduct.
# Abortion Services
UK Government intervenes to commission abortion services in Northern Ireland
The move comes amid an ongoing impasse between Stormont politicians on the issue.
# Trussonomics
New UK Chancellor: Tax rises and spending cuts on cards with ‘difficult’ decisions ahead
Jeremy Hunt criticised the ‘mistakes’ of Britain’s prime minister Liz Truss administration in his first interview since taking the job.
# UK
Bank of England takes steps to ensure ‘orderly end’ to emergency bond-buying scheme
The Bank is doubling the daily limit on its gilt-buying programme to £10 billion as the scheme draws to a close ahead of Friday’s cut-off.
# liz truss
UK Ministers urge Tory MPs to back Truss or risk electoral defeat
The appeal for unity comes as fresh polling puts the UK PM’s personal approval rating at minus 47.
# Axed
Liz Truss's government just axed the top income tax rate for highest earners
There has been an extremely negative reaction from Labour, SNP and the SDLP on the cuts.
# Price cap
UK Government announces energy price cap for homes in Northern Ireland
UK Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said the scheme would begin in November but would be backdated to October.
# Protocol
UK risks angering EU further with response to post-Brexit legal threats over NI Protocol
The UK Government is understood to have told Brussels it will continue with the grace periods relating to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
# australia trip
Ireland cannot be 'bargaining chip' in UK negotiations with EU, says McDonald
McDonald said that Boris Johnson’s interactions with Ireland were “wholly negative”.
# motion
Johnson Government tables confidence motion in itself after blocking Labour bid
Johnson is expected to open the debate due to take place on Monday.
# Showing the door
Tories call for end of Boris Johnson’s premiership as new Chancellor denies threatening to quit
Cabinet ministers, MPs and former Tory politicians have issued a slew of criticisms against the British prime minister.
# migrant policy
First UK migrant flight to Rwanda grounded after European Court of Human Rights intervenes
All migrants weren removed from the plane, Government sources have said.
# Asylum Seekers
European Court of Human Rights issues order to prevent asylum seeker from being sent to Rwanda
The first flight of asylum seekers is due to depart from the UK to Rwanda this evening.
# Northern Ireland Protocol
Taoiseach says UK government 'don't fully get' the Good Friday Agreement
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said that there was
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said Ireland will not be made collateral damage by the plan.
Sinn Féin Vice President Michelle O'Neill said that the Good Friday Agreement and Brexit were incompatible.
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has not given a timeline for his party to return to power-sharing in the north.
# across the irish sea
Johnson says plan to unilaterally redraw NI protocol is 'insurance' while 'ironing out problems'
The powersharing institutions in Northern Ireland have been plunged into crisis.
Johnson made clear that he did not favour scrapping the Protocol, and instead wanted to secure changes to it.
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said the Prime Minister will be judged on his actions and not his words over the Protocol.
Sinn Féin Stormont leader Michelle O’Neill said the Protocol "is here to stay" following a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
# border checks
UK Government drops plans for more post-Brexit import checks on EU goods
Jacob Rees-Mogg said the decision would avoid potential disruption at the border.
# UK Government
UK teachers call for ban on conversion therapy for trans pupils
UK teachers at a conference raised concerns over the government’s “repeated U-turns” on banning conversion therapy.
# Zaghari-Ratcliffe
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe calls for release of other detainees in Iran
The British-Iranian dual national also said: ‘What happened now should have happened six years ago.’
# liz truss
Businesses in Northern Ireland ‘hopeful’ of UK-EU deal after meeting UK Foreign Secretary
Liz Truss visited Northern Ireland today.
# House Of Lords
UK Government to discuss Northern Ireland first ministers’ roles after elections
Stormont elections take place this year on 5 May.
All time
Voices
Opinion: Make no mistake - this UK government will not rest until the Protocol is gone
Former negotiator Sydney Nash says it’s sovereignty, not sausages, that the UK government cares about.
# Report
UK report: 'Gradual approach' to Covid-19 lockdowns at start of pandemic led to more deaths
Experts and ministers sought to ‘only moderate the speed of infection’ through the population, MPs said.
# british army
British military tanker drivers take to roads of the UK to ease fuel crisis
200 British military personnel are being deployed to assist in the supply of petrol filling stations
# summer reopening
UK health secretary Sajid Javid self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19
It comes two days before the government goes ahead with the final lifting of lockdown restrictions in England.
# matt hancock
UK health minister apologises for breaching Covid guidance after being accused of affair with aide
The Sun newspaper in the UK today published pictures of Matt Hancock with adviser Gina Coladangelo.
# Back to normality
UK Government moves to scrap ten day quarantine for Covid contacts who are fully vaccinated
Under the plan, the ten day quarantine period could be axed in favour of daily lateral flow tests.
Voices
Brian Rowan: The question now re any amnesty in the North is whether Johnson can be trusted
The former BBC correspondent and author looks at a week where the UK prime minister set the cat among the pigeons in the North.
# UK Government
UK plans accelerated vaccine rollout as end of lockdown in sight
Previous targets were to inoculate over-50s by May, with all adults to be vaccinated by the end of September.
# Report
UK government pressed over victims of IRA attacks linked to Libyan explosives
A report on compensation to UK victims of Gaddafi-sponsored IRA terrorism was delivered to government last year.
# the tiers
UK medical journals tell British government relaxing restrictions for Christmas could 'cost many lives'
London mayor Sadiq Khan has also expressed concerns over the five-day “Christmas window”.
# Betting
UK began a landmark review into its gambling laws this week - Ireland doesn't even have a regulator yet
Legislation that would create a regulator in Ireland was first proposed by the government seven years ago.
# Coronavirus
Johnson outlines new tougher tiers of restrictions for England and warns of risk of 'New Year surge'
The British Prime Minister said today that the previous regime of restrictions did not do enough to tackle the virus.
# Boris Johnson
MPs to vote on Johnson's three-level Covid plan amid fallout over 'ignored' circuit breaker advice
The idea of a “short, hard lockdown” has also been mooted here.
# Explainer
Why is the UK threatening to roll back on the 'Northern Ireland Protocol' and what does it mean for Brexit trade talks?
EU-UK trade talks are set to start up again tomorrow.
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