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Extra cash to help economy possible
Additional funds may be made available to boost Northern Ireland's economy, Theresa Villiers revealed.
Sinn Fein welcomes surprise PUP peace overture
The political wing of the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) has made a surprising offer to explore reconciliation with republicans.
MPs to debate tax allowance change
MPs are to debate changes to pensioners' tax allowances, which experts have warned could hit those in Northern Ireland the hardest.
Ken Clarke calls Ukip 'a collection of clowns' and claims some of the party's supporters are racist
Some potential voters for the UK Independence Party were denounced as racists by a senior Tory minister today as relations between the two parties plumbed new depths of acrimony.
Anger over OAP benefit comments
Iain Duncan Smith suffered a backlash from cabinet colleagues yesterday after he suggested that wealthy pensioners should voluntarily hand back their universal benefit payments.
David Ford ‘treated harshly for backing gay marriage’
Alliance Party leader David Ford has been “treated harshly” by his church over his political support for gay marriage, his predecessor Lord Alderdice has said.
MPs raise doubts over Chancellor George Osborne's £310bn infrastructure plan
The credibility of George Osborne’s £310bn plan to boost economic growth by building roads, railways, airports and power stations is thrown into doubt today by MPs.
I'm not a Thatcherite, says David Cameron
David Cameron has denied being a Thatcherite - despite arguing in an interview that "we are all Thatcherites now".
DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds in hospital after fainting at Westminster
Democratic Unionist deputy leader Nigel Dodds is feeling much better after he was rushed to hospital after falling ill at Westminster, the First Minister has said.
TUV leader challenges DUP over republican prison tours
A Belfast-based travel company is already offering tours of the Maze prison, it was revealed yesterday.
David Cameron propels Boris Johnson’s brother into Downing Street role
David Cameron has parachuted Boris Johnson's younger brother into a senior government role in a move widely seen as attempting to reinvigorate the party and appease backbench critics.
Margaret Thatcher did give go-ahead for talks with republicans at the height of hunger strikes
Margaret Thatcher gave the go-ahead for secret talks with republicans during the hunger strikes — despite her public insistence that there would be no negotiations with terrorists, her authorised biography has revealed.
Ian Paisley’s peace role foreseen by mandarins
By the early 1980s, “official circles” in London were beginning to believe Ian Paisley could prove to be a constructive force, the new Margaret Thatcher biography claims.
Former Ulster Unionist Terry Wright joins the Conservative Party
The former deputy chairman of the Ulster Unionist party is to join the NI Conservative Party.
Stormont will hand over more powers to new super-councils
After years of delay, the Executive has at last confirmed that councillors will be handed new powers currently held by Stormont.
Reconciliation will falter if it is used as a political football, insists PUP
A loyalist party linked to the UVF has set out its stall on the vexed questions of reconciliation and the past.
Stormont Executive failing on peace, claims Fianna Fail's leader Micheal Martin
Stormont's ruling political parties have created a dangerous vacuum in Northern Ireland by failing to fulfil the promise of peace and reconciliation, the Fianna Fail leader has claimed.
Boris Johnson among Tories calling for 'Thatcherite zeal' against trade unions
Conservatives have called for curbs on trade unions' powers to call a strike, with Boris Johnson encouraging the government to show "some Thatcherite zeal" against potential industrial action this year.
Labour pledge to outspend Tories
Labour is preparing to fight the 2015 election on a bold but risky pledge to spend more than the Conservatives.
A quintessentially British protest: Margaret Thatcher’s detractors opt for loud but peaceful dissent
Yes there were shouts of anger and outrage. Banners were held aloft and the streets occasionally echoed to sound of whistles, booing and catcalls.
In pictures: UK Soap Awards
New suspects in Maddie probe
In Pictures: North West 200
In Pictures: Balmoral Show
Nice-but-dull Kate's annoying baby bump pose
FHM's sexiest women - Kunis knocks Tulisa off her perch
Latest News
Afghan interpreters can come to UK
Around 600 Afghan interpreters are to be offered the chance to settle in Britain after an apparent coalition rethink.
Electricity firm reveals 18% rise
Most typical household electricity bills in Northern Ireland will increase by £90 a year from July 1.
Payday lenders charging 1,700%
Some lenders in Northern Ireland are charging around 1,700% interest on payday loans, it has been revealed.
Latest Sport
Stoke confirm Pulis exit
Tony Pulis' seven-year reign as Stoke manager has come to an end after he and the club agreed to part company by mutual consent.
Corbisiero looking to make his mark
Alex Corbisiero is desperate to put an injury-ravaged season behind him and reassert his position as England's first-choice loosehead prop in the upcoming fixtures against the Barbarians and Argentina.
Lion O'Brien healing quickly
British and Irish Lions flanker Sean O'Brien could yet play for Leinster in Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 final after making rapid progress in his recovery from a knee injury.
Latest Showbiz
Apprentice teams milking the profit
Apprentice hopefuls are hoping to avoid an udder disaster as they try to cream off the biggest profit in their latest task.
'World class' rocker Bolder dies new
Bolder joined David Bowie's backing band in 1971, appearing on classic albums including Hunky Dory and Aladdin Sane. He went on to join Uriah Heep five years later and only stopped playing with the band a few months ago, due to his poor health.
Two films bring Italy to Cannes
La dolce vita has arrived in Cannes thanks to a pair of films set in Italy exploring lives of affluent ennui.
