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Ban on political advisers with jail record set to fail
A senior Sinn Fein official whose job was under threat from a Bill stopping special advisers with criminal convictions holding Stormont posts looks set to be rescued by the SDLP.
David Cameron offers review of civil partnerships as gay marriage Bill clears major hurdle
Moves to legalise gay marriage in Britain cleared a crucial parliamentary hurdle as it emerged that civil partnerships could be abolished as the price for getting David Cameron’s plans on to the statute book.
Northern Ireland's past looms large again in five-hour debate
Assembly Members may have been debating a law for the future but – as always – the past loomed large.
Deal heads off Tory revolt over same-sex marriage
Plans to allow same-sex marriage in the UK have survived a Tory backlash after a fraught debate in the House of Commons.
Peter Robinson saddles up for organ donation campaign
Kitted out in his cycling gear, First Minister Peter Robinson looked quite the wheelman as he hit the pedals to support GAA star Joe Brolly’s drive to raise organ donation awareness.
Outrage as MP salaries set to rise by up to £20k
MPs are in line for a dramatic pay rise of up to £20,000 in a move that could spark public fury.
David Cameron hints at going it alone without the Liberal Democrats
David Cameron has hinted that he could attempt to govern without the Liberal Democrats if disputes within the coalition made it impossible to continue.
Thugs in attack on MLA John Dallat’s office
The constituency office of SDLP East Londonderry MLA John Dallat has been attacked.
Angry Scottish mob tells Ukip leader Nigel Farage to ‘go back to England’
Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, had to be given a police escort through an angry crowd as he tried to take his party's anti-EU message to Scotland.
Finally revealed: how much First Ministers spent selling Northern Ireland to the world
Foreign trips by First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness over the last year have cost the public purse more than £350,000, raising questions over whether they were good value for money.
Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson's trips abroad cost Northern Ireland taxpayer £350,000
Overseas junkets for Government ministers cost Northern Ireland taxpayers more than £350,000 in the past year, official figures revealed today.
Ed Miliband ranked 20th in world’s most influential Jews list
Ed Miliband may be struggling to convince voters at home that he is the man to lead the country after the next election, but that has not stopped a leading Israeli newspaper from giving the Labour leader a top 20 billing in its annual list of the world’s most influential Jews.
Echoes of Big Ian as the First Minister Peter Robinson sticks the boot in
Peter Robinson appealed to Assembly colleagues to "take a step back" from party politicking – just before sticking his boot into the SDLP.
David Ford launches intermediary scheme to aid the course of justice
Justice Minister David Ford has launched new pilot schemes to help vulnerable victims, witnesses and defendants to communicate more effectively when giving evidence.
David Cameron to publish Bill on EU referendum
David Cameron will today try to quell a growing rebellion by his Conservative MPs over Europe by publishing a draft Bill to guarantee that an in/out referendum on Europe will be held by 2017.
Matt Baggott's Stormont plea: 'Enough rhetoric, deal with poverty'
Support for Northern Ireland’s paramilitaries will persist until politicians tackle endemic poverty and youth unemployment, the country’s most senior policeman has warned, ahead of a huge security operation to protect next month’s meeting of G8 world leaders.
Orange Order may shun PSNI chief Baggott's talks in Cardiff
The Orange Order is expected to boycott Matt Baggott’s talks initiative in Cardiff.
Fresh blow for David Cameron as senior minister backs EU exit
Prime Minister David Cameron has been dealt another hammer blow on Europe with a senior minister saying he would vote on an EU exit if given the chance.
Tories' euro rebellion grows
Two Tory ministers edged the Conservative Party closer to calling for an end to Britain's membership of the EU – saying that if relations did not change, they would vote for an immediate exit.
Shared future plan 'a political fig-leaf' to cover up lack of will
A pressure group which forced a Stormont rethink on shared future proposals has blasted the latest initiative to tackle sectarianism as a "political fig-leaf".
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
Facebook too old, say Twitter teens
Twitter is booming as a social media destination for American teenagers who complain about too many adults and too much drama on Facebook, according to a new study about online behaviour.
Pentagon seeks £300m for Guantanamo
The Pentagon is asking for nearly £300 million - 450 million dollars - to maintain and upgrade the Guantanamo Bay prison that President Barack Obama wants to close.
Mayor ducks 'crack video' grilling
Toronto's mayor continued to avoid questions about a video purportedly showing him smoking crack cocaine, despite calls by both allies and rivals for further comment.
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
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.
