Police chief considering release of secret MI5 report on Troubles

Campaigners welcome announcement from Northern Ireland’s top policeman amid fears the file might never “see the light of day”

Declassified UK

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jan/04/ballymena-northern-ireland-riots-immigrants-homes-attacks

Much of Ballymena is still run by gangsters. The well-off residents of the Bible Belt will look the other way and keep their heads down, and still vote for the politicians who give tacit support to gangster rule.

#NIPolitics

Ballymena riots six months on: fear, formidable obstacles and official silence

After attacks on immigrants’ homes, groups patrol the streets to intimidate potential victims, who try to keep a low profile

The Guardian

‘Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, decision-making was "chaotic" and affected by “political machinations”’

It’s a quote from the Covid Inquiry, but could be applied to anything to do with NI government.

#CovidInquiry #NIPolitics

We teach democracy at school but lock young people out at the ballot box. Time for change? What do you think?

#VotesForUnder18s #NIPolitics #VotesFor16YearOlds

How many more racist attacks will it take before NI Executive stops making excuses and starts protecting minority communities? Broken promises, half-built homes, and ignored hate crime reforms are putting lives at risk. Watch the truth they don’t want to face. #NIPolitics #EndRacism #Accountability

@Ronnierobins @georgetakei

How has your 'phone not spontaneously caught fire after writing that? (-:

#NIPolitics

Surely, if the veterans didn't break the law, then they have nothing to fear? Isn't that the usual argument?

Fighting to prevent justice is an odd hill to die on.

#UKPolitics #NIPolitics

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/british-army-northern-ireland-government-echr-paul-young-b1209415.html

British Army veterans of Northern Ireland Troubles march on Westminster

They have urged the Labour Government to not repeal the Legacy Act.

Evening Standard

Amusing side-note:

The E.U.'s own motivation for this is in part to do with accumulated dross in the regulatory system: multiple overlapping and old classifications.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52022PC0748

So sticking with the copied old E.U. system from 2008 (which the H.M.G. responses say would be the result of a #StormontBrake) would be to leave N.I. law as being more complex and expensive "red tape" for businesses to cope with than current E.U. law is.

#Brexit, eh!

#chemistry #NIPolitics #UKPolitics

EUR-Lex - 52022PC0748 - EN - EUR-Lex

The effect on actual N.I. to G.B. trade is minimal; with no indication that conforming N.I. chemical suppliers/distributors will violate any U.K. regulations.

Not conforming will, however, impact them far more greatly than any re-training and label adjustments costs will. It will collapse their off-island market drastically.

It does seem that the DUP is a cut-their-noses-off-despite-their-own-faces party oftentimes.

#chemistry #NIPolitics #UKPolitics #StormontBrake #DemocraticUnionists

The impact on #NorthernIreland businesses is basically the same as on all E.U. chemical industry businesses: re-train to learn about the new categories, adjust product and container labels (if applicable), and make sure the fonts and WWW sites are compliant. It's an entirely level playing field in that respect; and as is pointed out, businesses have to spend on maintaining and updating labels *anyway*.

#chemistry #NIPolitics #UKPolitics #StormontBrake