Hi °C | Lo °C 
Rebel Ulster Unionists Basil McCrea and John McCallister confirm new party
Rebel unionists Basil McCrea and John McCallister have confirmed they will form a new party.
Task force to rule on Stormont flag-flying is sunk in a sea of bitterness
An Assembly attempt to set up a special task force to examine the future of the Union flag flying at Stormont has collapsed.
'Stormont must help highlight home dangers'
They are a potential child killer – and are in thousands of homes in Northern Ireland.
David Ford: the next stop for Alliance is Europe
Alliance leader David Ford says his party is firmly on the up – so much so he is eyeing a seat in Europe.
Nick Clegg crisis as he says he knew of Rennard sex claims
The gravest crisis of Nick Clegg's tenure as Liberal Democrat leader deepened last night after he admitted he was aware of “non-specific” allegations that a senior party official had sexually harassed women.
UUP could cause the welfare bill to fall
The UUP could throw the Executive into crisis today if it decides to oppose the extension of the controversial Welfare Reform Bill to Northern Ireland.
Arlene Foster: It's time to sell ourselves to tourists
The fightback against the damage caused to Northern Ireland's image by the recent street protests linked to the Union flag dispute must start now, Executive Minister Arlene Foster has insisted.
Mike Nesbitt slams cost of MLAs’ St Patrick’s Day trip to US
A row has erupted between Stormont politicians over how many MLAs should travel to Washington to celebrate St Patrick’s Day at the taxpayers’ expense.
UUP exiles in contact with Tories as the momentum of change shifts down a gear
Two MLAs who dramatically quit the UUP last week in a row over unionist unity have opened contacts with the Conservative Party.
Unity candidate good news for Sinn Fein, says Basil McCrea
Basil McCrea has warned that a united unionist candidate in the upcoming Mid Ulster by-election will simply drive up Sinn Fein's vote and leave a bitter, sectarian legacy.
Anger over question time truants
MLAs who did not go to ministers' question time are to be hauled before the Speaker of the House to apologise.
Francie Molloy: Make your claims in public
Sinn Fein MLA Francie Molloy has urged anyone making allegations about him to do so in public.
Three-man band's tune may sound too much like Alliance
For Basil McCrea and John McCallister, resigning from the UUP in protest at the drift to unionist unity was the easy part.
John McCallister quits UUP as pact agreed
Former Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader John McCallister has resigned from the party following the agreement with the DUP to field a joint candidate for the Mid-Ulster seat vacated by Martin McGuinness.
George Osborne plans £400 RBS shares 'gift' for all UK taxpayers
The Chancellor George Osborne has ordered Treasury officials to draw up plans for a Government “give-away” of Royal Bank of Scotland shares to boost the economy – and the Coalition's electoral prospects – by 2015.
Labour wants mansion tax to fund return to 10p rate
The battle lines on taxation for the 2015 general election were drawn yesterday when Labour made a surprise promise to bring back a 10p starting rate of income tax.
Basil McCrea and John McCallister quit UUP over unionist by-election pact
The Ulster Unionist Party's decision to appoint of a joint unionist candidate to fight the Mid-Ulster by-election has resulted in the resignation of former deputy leader John McCallister and outspoken MLA Basil McCrea.
Unionists agree on poll candidate
The son of a murdered police officer has been chosen to contest the Mid-Ulster by-election on a joint unionist ticket, it has been confirmed.
Alliance: Give up on failed talks and let someone else draw up shared future plan
Efforts by Stormont parties to come up with a shared future strategy have failed and the process should be handed over to an independent group of outsiders, the Alliance Party has said.
Fresh bid to move forward on Troubles legacy
Stormont leaders are to meet within days to attempt to hammer out a way of dealing with the legacy of the Troubles.
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
PM faces gay marriage Bill backlash
David Cameron is facing a fresh bout of Tory strife after the coalition's plans to introduce gay marriage cleared the Commons.
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.
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.
