'I am your First Minister, whether you like it or not': O'Neill and TUV man in fiery Stormont clash

ANDREW MADDEN, Belfast Telegraph, February 5th, 2026

NO LOVE LOST IN THE CHAMBER AS STORMONT LEADERS FACE MLAS AT EXECUTIVE OFFICE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly's appearance before the Executive Office committee saw some heated exchanges yesterday afternoon.

At one stage Ms O'Neill clashed with TUV MLA Timothy Gaston, who was suspended from the Assembly for two days this week.

Alliance's Stewart Dickson also accused the First and Deputy First Ministers of being “controlled externally” over the way forward in redeveloping the former Maze Prison site.

The session came in the wake of news the PSNI was making enquiries into a report that Ms O'Neill and committee chair Paula Bradshaw allegedly committed misconduct in public office relating to a meeting between the pair prior to the First Minister giving evidence to MLAs in October 2024.

At the time Sinn Fein was facing criticism over several controversies, including that of former party press officer Michael McMonagle, who was convicted of child sex offences.

During that committee meeting Ms Bradshaw and Mr Gaston clashed, with him telling her to “breathe” following an exchange.

This led to a complaint to the standards commissioner, which resulted in Mr Gaston's suspension.

In yesterday's session he began his questioning by referencing Ms O'Neill's previous comments regarding there being “no alternative” to IRA violence during the Troubles.

He asked her if she “stands over being the 'First Minister of no alternative'?”

Ms O'Neill replied: “I am your First Minister, whether you like it or not.”

‘You’re not my First Minister’

Mr Gaston shot back: “You're not my First Minister.”

The First Minister added: “We should not try to score points in terms of dealing over the legacy of the past.

“I think we have to recognise that there are many tragedies and injustices of the past, and our job as leaders today is about building for the future.”

The TUV man then moved on to the meeting between her and Ms Bradshaw prior to the October 2024 committee session.

Ms O'Neill hit out at his “nonsense” over this issue and accused him of “deflection and distraction from the fact that you got pulled up in your behaviour and got sent out of the Assembly chamber for two days”. She added: “Everything about that meeting is well-documented and on the public record.”

Mr Dickson asked the Stormont leaders about the lack of progress on redeveloping the Maze Prison site.

There were previous plans for a peace centre there, but this was subsequently blocked by the DUP over claims it could become a “shrine to terrorism”.

Ten republican prisoners died on hunger strike in the jail in 1981.

Mr Dickson said he appreciated the duo were “subject to political vetoes” over the issue, and “people that instruct you what to do have said 'no'”.

He added: “I'm not blaming you personally for this as an Executive Office, because I think you're controlled externally in respect of all of this.”

Ms O'Neill responded: “I take exception to you saying that we are controlled by someone outside this room — I think that's rather unfortunate.”

‘Very difficult to meet expectations’

Ms Little-Pengelly also batted away his “allegation of control”. She told him: “You don't clearly know me very well if you think anybody can control me.”

She added: “I think it's very difficult to see what we do with the listed buildings that meets the expectations of Sinn Fein as a party, the First Minister... but also can be done in a way which doesn't cause significant upset to the many victims and survivors.

“But I do think, in the meantime, we should be unlocking that economic potential. The position of former Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness was to say 'no' to any further activity on that site, pending agreement on the politically sensitive list of buildings.

“I have said publicly I would like the First Minister to lift that veto and to allow the potential of that major site. Not just for the people of Lagan Valley, but I think it could be a site of regional significance, to allow that economic activity to go ahead and start to change the narrative of that site, which I think in the future can well make it much more possible to find a future for those listed buildings.”

The DUP's Phillip Brett raised the issue of the A5 upgrade, approval for which was quashed last year because it didn't meet Stormont's climate change targets.

He asked whether the First Minister still supported Stormont's climate change legislation, given the ruling.

She said she did, before branding him a “climate change denier”.

Mr Brett asked Ms O'Neill to provide evidence for labelling him as such.

She responded: “It is no secret about the DUP being climate change deniers.”

Northern Ireland represents ‘a beacon of light to the world’, says Connolly

SEANÍN GRAHAM, Irish Times, February 5th, 2026

President fulfils inauguration commitment that she would travel to the North for her first official visit

Northern Ireland represents “a beacon of light to the world” in showing that peace is possible, President Catherine Connolly has said.

Fulfilling an inauguration commitment that she would travel to the North for the first official visit of her presidency, Connolly told a packed room at Ulster University in Belfast yesterday she wanted to play a part in “deepening relationships on this island”.

“We won’t always agree,” she said.

“We will have different perspectives and, of course, different aspirations for the future. All of those perspectives and aspirations are legitimate.”

During the speech, she referenced Article 3 of the Constitution, which sets out the firm wish of the Irish people for a united Ireland under consent.

Constitution

“I think it’s worth reading out what we committed to in our Constitution because I couldn’t capture it any better,” she said.

Connolly said we are living in an “intertwined and unfinished story”.

“Our games, our music, our languages should never divide us,” she added.

“They are integral to this island’s cultural wealth. They are our shared treasures.”

In what was the first of a three-day visit, the President met First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle yesterday morning.

All three shook hands and O’Neill told Connolly “it’s great to have you here”.

During a separate visit to Queen’s University Belfast, the President displayed some of her sporting prowess with a cross-community basketball team, the Peace Players.

A video shows her performing a backwards shot in the grounds of the university’s Physical Education Centre.

Connolly described her tour of Ulster University as “an inspiration”.

“Northern Ireland, without exaggeration, now represents a beacon of light to a world in how decades-long conflict can be resolved and reconciliation fostered and continued,” she told staff and students.

“In the world, unfortunately, that is ever more consumed with war and militarism, Northern Ireland’s lesson is increasingly important and increasingly significant. It is a lesson that we should all tell the world, that peace is normal and that war is not normal and that peace is possible.”

‘Grief and pain’

She said the Troubles had left “deep marks” on the North and many people “continue to live with grief and pain every day”.

“It is the collective responsibility on all of us to address properly the needs and the questions of the families most affected, wherever they are, with integrity and a determination to deliver truth, accountability and justice for them and for society,” she added.

“As President, I give an absolute commitment that I will ensure through my work that all voices from all backgrounds are heard, regardless of gender, age, belief, ethnicity or nationality.”

The President’s visit will continue today and tomorrow with engagements in Co Derry.

Fireworks lit by Gaston as O'Neill faces grilling with Little-Pengelly

SUZANNE BREEN, Belfast Telegraph, February 5th, 2026

Two years and a day after devolution was restored in Stormont, Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly made a rare appearance before the Executive Office Committee.

Chaired by Alliance's Paula Bradshaw with the TUV's Timothy Gaston in attendance — suspended from the Assembly for breaching the rules after clashing with her — this was an event at which fireworks were anticipated.

Mr Gaston isn't one for keeping his head down or not returning to the past. He quizzed the First Minister on her comments four years ago about there being “no alternative” to IRA violence during the Troubles.

He asked her if she stood over “being the First Minister of no alternative?”

“I am your First Minister whether you like it or not,” she said.

“You're not my First Minister,” he replied. “We should not try and score points in terms of dealing over the legacy of the past,” Ms O'Neill said.

“I think we have to recognise that there are many tragedies and injustices of the past, and our job as leaders today is about building for the future.

“It is about healing those wounds and dealing with the legacy of the past in a way that commands the support of victims and survivors.”

The First and Deputy First Ministers may not share a common interpretation of the past, but they were united in denying a claim by Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson.

He accused them of being “controlled externally” when it came to agreeing a way forward on the redevelopment of the Maze Long Kesh site.

Alliance has previously accused the Executive Office of “complete failure” on the issue. It has pointed to the spiralling year-on-year cost of major developments as well as payment for the continued upkeep of the site.

Mr Dickson said he wasn't blaming the two women personally “because I think you're controlled externally in respect of all this”.

He added that Ms O'Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly were “subject to political vetoes” over the issue and that the “people that instruct you what to do have said 'no'”.

The First Minister, who told the Belfast Telegraph six months ago, that she “commands the (Sinn Fein) ship” at Stormont, rejected the Alliance man's claim.

She told him she took “exception to you saying that we are controlled by someone outside this room”.

Ms Little-Pengelly also challenged his claim. “You don't clearly know me very well if you think anybody can control me,” she said.

Her DUP colleague, North Belfast MLA Philip Brett, agreed: “The Deputy First Minister is a strong independent woman, very capable of making her own decisions.

“If I had made that comment I may have found a complaint being sent to the commissioner accusing me of being misogynist,” he told the Alliance man.

There were exchanges between Ms O'Neill and Mr Brett over her interview with Sky in which she called for a border poll by 2030.

Speaking to Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, she said: “Now is the time for the plan and the preparation. I don't want done to the people here what was done in relation to Brexit.”

Mr Brett asked her what legal basis or criteria she had used to set that date for a border poll. Ms O'Neill stated that she didn't think his line of questioning was relevant to her role as First Minister.

The DUP MLA said she'd tweeted a clip on Sunday from the interview she'd given as First Minister. “I'm glad to see you're following me,” she quipped.

“Of course, I have to follow the First Minister,” he replied.

2030 ‘a fine date’ for Border poll

“I think 2030 is a fine date for us to reach for because we're all being failed by decisions taken in London over our heads,” Ms O'Neill said.

“Now is the time for change. Philip, I'd actually ask you to join me in the conversation. Let's have a debate what the health service and education could look like.

“There is a prize here of something better.”

Mr Brett said Sinn Fein had signed up to the Good Friday Agreement which clearly laid out the criteria for calling a border poll: when it appears likely that a majority of those voting would express a wish for Irish unity.

The DUP MLA said Sinn Fein's preferred dates and promises of a border poll were constantly changing.

Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness had told people there would be a referendum by 2016. Mary Lou McDonald had said one would be held by 2022.

In 2024, Ms O'Neill had previously said a border poll would be delivered by 2034. “I just wonder why you changed your position and changed your date?” he asked her.

The First Minister replied that she was “consistent” in her belief in Irish unity.

Long and Beattie in online spat over new PSNI 'data breach'

BRETT CAMPBELL, Belfast Telegraph, February 5th, 2026

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BRANDED A 'DISASTER' AS NAMES APPEAR ON WEBSITE

The Department of Justice has been branded “a disaster” after dozens of police officers taking legal action over a major data breach had their names published on the NI Courts website.

UUP MLA Doug Beattie and Naomi Long got into a public spat on social media after the identities of 41 PSNI officers were published on a court list on Tuesday evening.

Mr Beattie branded the justice minister's department as “a disaster” as he pointed out that media outlets frequently conceal the identity of PSNI officers for security reasons.

“Why on earth is there not a process in place, through the courts, to ensure PSNI officers details are not routinely released to the public through the courts,” he asked on X.

It prompted Mrs Long to reply insisting that there is a process in place through the courts that “requires the legal representative to apply for anonymity and a judge to grant it”.

“The department has no power to make judicial decisions,” the minister added.

“We acted with the permission of the judge and took the site down as a precaution.”

Why no MoU?

Mr Beattie replied to ask why there is not a Memorandum of Understanding with the courts to ensure “sensitive information is withheld for individuals who would be under threat due to their jobs”.

The online exchange turned sour when the Alliance leader accused Mr Beattie of relentlessly and unfairly attacking the DoJ. “Your desperation to blame me and attack my department on every issue, even where the fault lies elsewhere, is as tedious as it is transparent, and exposes your lack of understanding of the system,” Mrs Long wrote.

“You've been justice spokesperson for well over seven years — you should know better.”

Mr Beattie had the final word in the online row despite Mrs Long's husband weighing in to take his wife's side.

“Doug — Why isn't there a process? Reply — There is a process. Doug — why isn't there... something else?” Councillor Michael Long wrote on X.

But the target of his criticism disagreed and insisted there is no such process.

Responding to Mrs Long's accusation of trying to make the issue about her, Mr Beattie retorted: “Not everything is about you. You're the minister — it's your job.”

The minister doubled down on her claim that no data breach has occurred.

On Wednesday night DoJ released a statement on behalf of Mrs Long who wished “to address some of the misconceptions and outright inaccuracies being purported by some on social media”.

She said “it is well known that court details, other than those relating to family proceedings, are routinely listed publicly online” and that only a judge can grant anonymity.

The minister said to suggest otherwise “is misleading and completely false” as she insisted a decision to temporarily suspend the list “was not because an error had been made”.

Mrs Long added: “I hope this clarifies the situation and puts an end to online speculation and misreporting.”

The affected officers are pursuing compensation claims against the PSNI over a Freedom of Information blunder which resulted in nearly 10,000 staff being identified just over two years ago - the PSNI has stressed all names published on a court list this week were supplied by the legal representatives of claimants taking legal action as private citizens.

“The limited list of names is not part of the group litigation involving several thousand officers and staff,” it added.

But Mr Beattie pointed out the 41 officers affected wouldn't be in court if it were not for PSNI failings as he insisted caution should have been exercised much earlier in the legal process.

Second avoisable data breach

“Now we have a second breach of their security that could have been avoided,” he told the Belfast Telegraph.

“The PSNI and DoJ knew there was action being taken against them and in this instance there should have been anonymity for these officers.

“It's common sense, and to say 'not my fault Guv, I'm just the minister' is simply not good enough.

“There seems to be zero critical thinking in the department which increasingly gives sloppy answers to serious questions.

“The fact that DoJ took the names down so quickly tells you they should never have been published in the first place.

“There is a trend of the minister being reactive instead of proactive which is never a good sign.”

In a statement, the Upper Bann representative warned “it is one calamity after another” with DoJ which is led by a minister “who is never on hand to take responsibility”.

He said Mrs Long's “cries of 'that's an operational matter' or 'they are independent' make you wonder why on earth do we have a justice minister” or department while warning that officers have been put at risk.

“It seems process overrules common sense, independence stifles forward thinking, and operational matters are played like a get out of jail card,” Mr Beattie continued.

“If the Department of Justice had a report card for the last 12 months it would be sitting on a resounding F.”

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland has expressed “considerable concern” about “another avoidable and embarrassing error” and said “questions must be asked [about] how this happened”.

Stormont's First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the PSNI “have homework to do” in order to protect officers' information, however she acknowledged the details still have to emerge to determine if the incident qualifies as a data breach.

“I think we just need to do a bit more digging into that,” she said, while warning that there cannot be another situation where public funds are used to rectify any mistake.

A total of £119m has been ringfenced to compensate PSNI staff affected by the 2023 data breach and “a universal offer” of £7,500 for each individual has been made.

Names of undercover PSNI officers are revealed

CONNLA YOUNG, Irish News, February 5th, 2026

PSNI officers involved in undercover surveillance work were among those named on a Court Service website list of police personnel involved in legal action linked to the 2023 police data breach.

The details, which included first names and surnames, appeared on the website ahead of a civil court hearing yesterday connected to the 2023 data leak.

It is understood some of those whose names were made public have been involved in covert surveillance work linked to the drugs trade.

The Court Service website, which provides the names of people due to appear in courts and can be accessed by members of the public, was taken down last night when details of the disclosure emerged.

Removing of names ‘a precautionary measure and not because an error had been made’

Publication came hours after the Police Federation said officers are to receive a £7,500 compensation payment

The PSNI was rocked more than two years ago when details of around 10,000 police officers and civilian staff were accidentally published on the internet.

The surnames and first name initial, gender, service number and roles of PSNI officers and staff were all disclosed during the major data breach.

Last year, it was confirmed in court that up to 300 attempts were made to access the disclosed information, which later fell into the hands of dissident republicans.

Details of the latest data incident came to light just hours after solicitors acting for some officers impacted by the 2023 leak said they are to receive £7,500 one-off payment.

However, the PSNI insists the “matter is subject to ongoing settlement discussions”.

Test cases

The reported settlement comes after a recent group legal action at the High Court involving six sample claimants, which has not yet been ruled on.

In December, the court heard that a detective who witnessed the aftermath of a paramilitary bid to kill senior colleague John Caldwell went into “freefall” after the 2023 breach.

The witnesses in the case have been granted anonymity by court order, cannot be named publicly and have been referred to by cyphers in the court.

It is understood police officers and civilian staff listed in the latest disclosure are not part of the group reported to have been offered the £7,500 settlement.

A spokeswoman for the PSNI said it “is aware of a number of claimants who have ongoing civil claims regarding the August 2023 data breach which have been published on NI Courts Service website”.

“These names have been supplied by their legal representatives,” she said.

“The limited list of names is not part of the group litigation involving several thousand officers and staff.”

The PSNI said the list of names published on the Courts Service website “is not part of the group litigation involving several thousand officers and staff” over the 2023 data breach

In a statement last night, Justice Minister Naomi Long insisted that correct protocol had been followed.

‘No data breach by my department’

“Firstly, there has been absolutely no data breach by my department. Publishing court lists is a routine process, and no data has been released in error,” she said.

“It is well known that court details, other than those relating to family proceedings, are routinely listed publicly online. The exception to this is when a request for anonymity is made to a judge. That request would be made by a legal representative or parties to proceedings.

“It is only a judge that can grant that anonymity and it is only a legal representative that can make the request. Staff in the NI Courts and Tribunals Service have no authority or legal standing to make such a request, let alone a decision of that nature. To suggest otherwise is misleading and completely false.”

On the decision to remove the court list from the website, the minister said: “My department was alerted to the listing by one of the parties to the cases and it was decided at that point to temporarily suspend the list while it was refreshed. This was a precautionary measure and was not because an error had been made.”

SDLP Policing Board member Colin McGrath said it is “deeply concerning that, after everything that has happened in recent years around the PSNI data breach, the names of officers could once again be published online.

“This will cause further distress to officers and their families, and basic checks should have been in place to prevent it,” he said.

“Reports that these names are now circulating on social media are extremely worrying.

“We know there are individuals who seek to exploit such information, and for those affected this will feel like a repeat of the 2023 data breach.”

‘Disturbing development’

The Ulster Unionist Party described it as a “disturbing” development.

UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA said “many officers perform sensitive, covert, or high risk roles, and the very nature of this case makes their identities particularly vulnerable”.

“It is therefore extremely concerning that the names of these claimants were disclosed on the public online court listings,” he said.

Justice Minister Naomi Long

The disclosure sparked an online spat between Justice Minister Naomi Long and UUP Justice spokesman Doug Beattie, with Mr Beattie tweeting: “Media including the BBC routinely hide the identity of PSNI officers for security reasons. Why on earth is there not a process in place, through the courts, to ensure PSNI officers details are not routinely released to the public through the courts.”

Ms Long replied on X: “There is a process in place through the courts, Doug. It requires the legal representative to apply for anonymity and a Judge to grant it. The Department has no power to make judicial decisions. We acted with the permission of the judge and took the site down as a precaution.”

Michelle O’Neill said: “This is the day when we’re actually responding to the previous data breach.

“The details are still to be unfolded in terms of how it has happened, but the PSNI need to fulfil their responsibilities in terms of the police officers that serve, that they ensure that their information is protected, that they do everything to support those officers who serve.

“We cannot be in another situation where we have to find money out of public funds to rectify a mistake that was made with PSNI data.”

OFDFM rejects claim of ‘control’ by Maze agreement 

Little-Pengelly asks O’Neill to lift Martin McGuinness ‘veto’ on progress for use of site’s listed buildings

REBECCA BLACK, Irish News, February 5th, 2026

STORMONT’S first and deputy first ministers (OFDFM) have rejected a claim they are “controlled” when it comes to agreeing to the redevelopment of the site of the former Maze prison.

The derelict jail, which held paramilitary inmates including 10 republican hunger strikers who died during 1981/2, sits on a 347 acre site near Lisburn.

While some development has taken place, including the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society becoming an anchor tenant and moving the annual Balmoral Show to the venue, there has been no agreement on a full regeneration plan.

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson described the stalemate as “a blot and a failure on the Executive Office”.

As Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly appeared before the Stormont Executive Office Committee, Mr Dickson claimed they are “controlled externally in respect of all of this”.

“I appreciate that you’re both subject to political vetoes over that, people that instruct you what to do have said no,” the committee vice chair said.

“It’s a blot and a failure on the executive that the Maze/Long Kesh has not progressed.

“If you cannot resolve the issue, could you at least then admit that you can’t resolve the issue, and could you give the issue over to some form of dispute resolution or mediation so that we can move on and genuinely deliver the prospects of that site.

“I’m not blaming you personally for this as an Executive Office, because I think you’re controlled externally in respect of all of this.”

‘I would like the first minister to lift that veto’

Ms O’Neill responded saying she took “exception to you saying that we are controlled by someone outside this room”.

“I think that’s rather unfortunate,” she added.

“I believe in the potential of the site, and like you, I think that there’s enormous economic potential, historical potential, reconciliation potential, but the reality is that there will need to be a political agreement in terms of opening up the site.

“There’s sensitivities around it all. I’m not going to give up on that, I think that is something that we should continue to work towards.”

Ms Little-Pengelly also expressed concern at the “allegation of control”.

“You don’t clearly know me very well if you think anybody can control me,” she said.

She said she wanted to see the economic potential of the site, but spoke of the challenges.

“I think it’s very difficult to see what we do with the listed buildings that meets the expectations of Sinn Féin as a party, the first minister, but also can be done in a way which doesn’t cause significant upset to the many victims and survivors,” she said.

“But I do think in the meantime we should be unlocking that economic potential. The position of former deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness was to say no to any further activity on that site, pending agreement on the politically sensitive list of buildings.

“I have said publicly I would like the first minister to lift that veto and to allow the potential of that major site, not just for the people of Lagan Valley, but I think it could be a site of regional significance, to allow that economic activity to go ahead and start to change the narrative of that site, which I think in the future, can well make it much more possible to find a future for those listed buildings.”

Meanwhile, DUP MLA Philip Brett, who also sits on the committee, expressed concern at the comment by Mr Dickson.

“I just want to put on record my objection to previous comments made in relation to my party colleague, the joint head of government and the deputy first minister, that she is in some way instructed or controlled,” he said.

“The deputy first minister is a strong, independent woman who’s very capable of making her own decisions. I believe if I had made that comment, I might have found a complaint being sent to the (standards) commissioner accusing me of being misogynistic.”

‘Farcical’ Belfast street sign policy under fire again

Japanese application deemed invalid

PAUL AINSWORTH, Irish News, February 5th, 2026

THE “farcical” nature of Belfast’s street sign policy has been highlighted further after it emerged a request for Japanese signage considered by the council was not made by a valid applicant.

The controversial policy was adopted by Belfast City Council in 2022, making it easier for residents of a street to apply for bilingual signs.

The vast majority of applications have been for Irish language names to feature alongside English on the signs, while a growing number are also requesting Ulster Scots.

However, last year it was discovered that the council has been tasked to deal with applications for a range of other languages.

The Irish News revealed applications had been made for signage in Japanese, Mandarin/Chinese and Hebrew.

It has since emerged the council is now also processing applications for signage in Greek and German.

Under the pre-2022 policy, a third of a street’s residents were required to back a request to survey the rest of the occupants on a new bilingual sign. If two-thirds supported it, then it would move forward for approval.

The new policy means just one resident of a street, a local elected councillor or a new street’s developer could trigger the residents’ consultation, and the overall threshold for approval has been lowered to 15%.

The applications for international languages was last year slammed as “ludicrous”, with the DUP questioning the time and money spent by the council on dealing with applications unlikely to meet the threshold.

Applications were made for signage featuring Japanese to be erected in two streets – Chichester Gardens in north Belfast, and Kings Drive in the east of the city.

The Chichester Gardens application will not progress further. It has been confirmed the applicant behind it was not valid, meaning they did not reside in the street.

As of this week, the Kings Drive application is still live, but there is no further progress beyond its submission.

Ulster Scots takes precedence over Chinese and Hebrew

Meanwhile, a Mandarin/ Chinese application for North Parade off the Ormeau Road was closed as an application for Irish signage in the street was approved.

Benmore Drive, in the Finaghy area, is one of three streets with a live application for Hebrew signage, but a previous application for an Ulster Scots sign there will be considered first.

Another Hebrew application, for Ebor Street in the loyalist Village area of south Belfast, is on hold due to a previous application for Irish language signage.

All applications are dealt with in the order they are received.

TUV councillor Ron McDowell said: “The whole process has been made a mockery of, with a range of street signs in diverse languages.

“It’s farcical, and with some applications it’s looking like a free-for-all that is descending into chaos.”

DUP councillor Ruth Brooks said the problems in the process have been made “absolutely clear”, and said of the invalid application: “Here is yet another example of why this policy, which the DUP have opposed, is seriously flawed.”

A spokesperson for Belfast City Council said the dual language policy “was approved by Council”.

Poll shows widespread support across sectarian divide for Workers' bill

SUZANNE BREEN, Belfast Telegraph, February 5th, 2026

NEW LEGISLATION IS AIMED AT ENSURING FAIRNESS FOR ALL STAFF

New employment legislation which strengthens workers' rights and focuses on creating good jobs in Northern Ireland is supported across the sectarian divide, according to the latest opinion poll.

More than eight in 10 people back key elements of the Executive's proposed Good Jobs Bill which Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald is set to introduce imminently.

Support for the measures is strongest among nationalist and Alliance voters. Dr Archibald has described it as “the biggest upgrade of our employment legislation since the Good Friday Agreement”.

It aims to end exploitative zero hours contracts; enhance protection for agency workers; prevent fire and rehire tactics; ensure tips left to workers are passed onto them in full; make it easier to attain flexible working; and enhance rights to family-related leave including the introduction of carers' leave.

83% support for end to Zero Hours contracts

A LucidTalk poll found that 83% of people believe that workers on a zero-hours contract have the right to be offered a contract reflecting the hours they actually work.

This is supported by more than nine in 10 nationalists and Alliance voters, and seven in 10 DUP and UUP voters.

Some 85% of people think that workers should be compensated if their employer cancels a shift without reasonable notice. This measure is backed by more than nine in 10 nationalists and Alliance voters, and three-quarters of DUP and UUP supporters.

Eight in 10 people believe that everyone should be able to access a trade union in their workplace for help with employment issues such as requesting flexibility.

This proposal is supported by 99% of SDLP, 96% of Sinn Fein, and 92% of Alliance voters along with six in 10 DUP and UUP voters.

Dr Archibald's legislation - which was first proposed after devolution was restored two years ago - was subject to public consultation, as well as a series of detailed discussions with business groups and trade unions.

Some 2,975 people took part in LucidTalk's online poll from January 16 to19 which was scientifically weighted to reflect the Northern Ireland population.

Jacquie White, chair of the NI Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, said: “These figures confirm that this legislation is overdue and there is an appetite for it across voters from all parties. It is two years since Stormont returned from suspension with a pledge to improve people's lives, with better wages and better working lives.

“Workers in Britain have recently secured these new rights through legislation passed by Westminster. Our Assembly has the responsibility for these matters here and needs to step up.”

Ms White said that workers needed access to unions in order to ensure their rights in the Good Jobs Bill will be respected and their voices heard.

“If we say we want action on matters such as zero-hours contracts, we need unions in the workplace to make sure the rules are being followed fairly. This is something which will protect good employers from a handful of exploitative bad bosses,” she stated.

“With recent criticism from the public, the level of support across the board for these proposals makes the Good Jobs Bill an easy 'win' for all political representatives.

“This delivers a practical approach to improving the economy, improving productivity and improving working lives.”

‘It's a disgrace we are still waiting for church's first female leader’

ALF McCREARY, Belfast Telegraph, February 5th, 2026

In many ways this week's election of a new Presbyterian Moderator was unsurprising.

The church chose the Reverend Richard Kerr, one of three male candidates, while the only female, the Reverend Mairisine Stanfield, came last.

This reflects a church which is still hidebound by tradition and run by men with deeply conservative views which are at odds with trends in modern society. In almost every other sphere, including business, education and politics, there are prominent women leaders, but not in the PCI (Presbyterian Church in Ireland).

There is no doubt that Rev Kerr will fill the post with dignity. He was runner-up last year to Rev Trevor Gribben, who caused shockwaves when he suddenly resigned over safeguarding issues.

The PCI is now undergoing a criminal investigation by the PSNI, and also a major investigation by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, on this issue.

There may be more than the usual interest this year in the election of a new Moderator of a church which has now mired itself in the “sackcloth and ashes” of repentance, as described by a senior figure at the Special General Assembly.

This may last for much longer than people anticipate until the mess is cleaned up.

Will the election of a new Moderator make any difference? The answer is not really.

There is no sense of joy in this election, but rather one of a church drawing in on itself.

The new Moderator-elect did not hold the traditional press conference on the day after the election, and has been directed by the PCI to assume a pastoral role and to cut down on public engagements.

Some people take this to be a further move towards secrecy, though a Moderator will be constrained by the current serious investigations.

Any of this year's four candidates, including the Rev Stanfield, would fill the post in their own way.

‘Never a woman’

Every previous Moderator has done his best — some more impressively than others — but in the entire 185-year history of the Presbyterian Church, its members have never elected a woman.

This is the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women in the PCI, and it would have been very fitting to mark this milestone by electing a female leader.

However, the voters in the PCI's 19 Presbyteries across Ireland chose to ignore this. Shame on them.

The church will of course deny that there is any discrimination against women, but the statistics tell another story. Between 2010 and 2025 there have been nearly 50 males in the Moderatorial elections but only two females: the Reverend Liz Hughes and the Reverend Stanfield. Both women stood three times but failed to get elected.

The Reverend Ruth Patterson was the first woman to be ordained by the PCI in 1976, and the first of any Reformed denomination in Ireland.

When she stood for Moderatorial election she, too, was unsuccessful. These facts speak for themselves.

In parts of the PCI there remains a deep bias against women in the ministry and eldership. There is also a growing interest in 'complementarity' where male clerics have cleverly searched the Scriptures to suggest that women's role in the church is 'complementary' to men, but not necessarily equal. This is theological rubbish. It suggests that women's role is mainly looking after the crèche and making traybakes, or perhaps becoming elders or deaconesses, but not in control of the pulpit.

This bias is unworthy of the women in the PCI who, in many ways, are the backbone of the church, and it remains a disgrace that the church has yet to elect a female Moderator.

People are now asking if this is a fit church for the 21st century. They are also wondering if the PCI needs a root-and-branch reset, of which the current, serious investigations into its lack of safeguarding are perhaps only the start.

Could potholes, not border polls, point to the future for unionism?

NEWTON EMERSON, Irish News, February 5th, 2026

OPINION

COULD pothole politics be the future of unionism? The concept has a strong Irish precedent, ironically.

Since the 1970s, the Republic has had independent councillors, TDs and even parties who campaign on fixing potholes to demonstrate their focus on practical delivery.

On social media last Sunday, UUP leader Jon Burrows posted: “Get your plans to sort potholes – not border polls.” He was responding to Michelle O’Neill predicting a border poll by 2030.

“It’s clear politics needs a reset and a relentless focus on fixing issues here in Northern Ireland and no better place to start that dealing with the tyre-shredding potholes,” he added.

Mr Burrows has put forward the same idea in more measured terms during recent interviews, calling for practical delivery and fewer arguments over constitutional and international affairs.

Taking up his post last Saturday, he said: “Under my leadership the Ulster Unionist Party will not be engaged in a culture war.”

Pothole politics at Stormont would work differently to elsewhere, as nobody needs to be bought off to prop up a government – everyone is almost guaranteed to be in office regardless.

Yet power-sharing also means an Executive can have no shared ideological position, so practical delivery is all there is left.

This makes pothole politics especially attractive to the smaller parties, as they can only demonstrate delivery through the one or two departments under their control.

Pothole potential

UUP health minister Mike Nesbitt appears to show the potential of this approach. The latest LucidTalk survey has found him to be the Executive’s most popular member. Despite few signs of practical improvement in the health service, people are still impressed – or less depressed – by a minister taking on a difficult task.

Conversely, there is growing disquiet within nationalism about Sinn Féin’s lack of practical delivery and emphasis on constitutional and international politics.

A further attraction of pothole politics for unionism is that it offers a tactical retreat.

Without an assembly majority or the largest assembly party, unionism no longer sets the constitutional agenda with its utterances.

So why not leave everyone else to grandstand while it makes itself useful? Or, more cynically, why not try to give that impression?

The DUP has immediately joined the UUP in talking about potholes, so it clearly sees the appeal. Of course, it helps that potholes are currently the responsibility of Sinn Féin infrastructure minister Liz Kimmins.

SDLP councillor Malachy Quinn offers a graphic illustration of pothole problems on the Ferry Road in Co Tyrone in 2023

“ Without an assembly majority, unionism no longer sets the constitutional agenda with its utterances. So why not leave everyone else to grandstand while it makes itself useful?

There are two basic obstacles to practising pothole politics at Stormont.

First, no party can fight an election by promising specific practical policies because no party knows what departments it will control.

Although sharing out departments is usually discussed in advance, understandings can be broken – the DUP changed its choice at the last minute when the current Executive was formed.

Second, even if a party gets its preferred departments, its ministers must operate within their budgets and the programme for government. Any decision considered significant, controversial or cutting across more than one department can be vetoed by unionists or nationalists at the Executive.

Many of these rules were brought in by the DUP via the St Andrews Agreement to prevent ministerial solo-runs.

Potholes might seem too uncontentious a problem to trigger such mechanisms, but they are merely a symptom of the £3 billion-plus roads maintenance backlog.

No infrastructure minister could find that sort of money without doing something significant, controversial or cross-cutting.

So pothole politics at Stormont must either be a collective exercise or a limited exercise – extremely limited, if the UUP or unionism imagines practising it as a rebuke to everyone else.

Parties could still force an interesting change by stating their preferred departments during elections. The UUP could run in 2027 by saying: “Here is our policy on potholes and we want to control the Department for Infrastructure to implement it.”

If another party picked that department, it would have to fix potholes or explain why it stopped the UUP doing so.

The UUP could also vow to enter opposition if it did not get its preferred departments. That would concentrate minds in the DUP and, to a lesser extent, in Sinn Féin.

But how long can any constitutional party stare enthusiastically into potholes or similar problems? In the assembly and online, Burrows is already unable to resist the constitutional and culture war arguments he claims to want to avoid.

Fixing the road in the middle of the road should really be a job for Alliance, if only it had not become waylaid by culture war arguments itself.

Childcare costs are rocketing but Stormont strategy fails parents

DR CIARA FITZPATRICK, Irish News, February 5th, 2026

THIS week marks the two year anniversary of the Executive being back in action.

Back in 2024, it said making childcare more affordable would be a ‘day one priority’, and this is further emphasised in the Programme for Government: “By the end of this mandate, we will have a comprehensive Executive-agreed Early Learning and Childcare Strategy in place, delivering improved outcomes for children and parents.”

Well, guess what, the draft strategy has been published and is out for consultation, but it is very unlikely that childcare will be more affordable – and it’s unlikely to improve outcomes for parents or children without extensive funding.

It’s another example of a poor quality government strategy that will fail to make much-needed material change to those who live here.

Instead, the labour market will continue to haemorrhage women who can’t afford to work. Women like ‘Kelsey’, who shared her story with the campaign group Melted Parents NI:

“Got the dreaded letter of price increase today. My son started in his daycare January 2025, it was £62 per day, which then increased to £69 per day in March 2025… It is now going up to £77 a day, with my second child due to start in April.

‘Having to quit my job’

“In response to this increase I have now had to quit my job – one which I have an undergraduate and a masters degree for and have worked in the field for 15 years. All for nothing.”

“It is the current lack of standardisation which necessitates statutory protection for children who are ‘socially disadvantaged’ and ensures they are prioritised for places

The draft strategy fundamentally overlooks the fact that the cost of childcare is increasing at a meteoric rate.

The Department of Education’s own data shows that between April 2024 and April 2025, the average full-day rate rose by around 12%.

The big policy measure in the draft document is a commitment to reduce childcare costs by up to 52% by 2032. The department purports to do this through increasing support available through the NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme.

However, their calculation is based on the current price of childcare and does not account for further price rises.

The Department of Education notes that the average daily rate for full-time registered childcare is £57 per day, per child.

Melted Parents NI has applied a 12% year-on-year rise and calculated that by 2032, the cost could be over £29k per year without government intervention – an increase of just over £10k on current rates.

This would see the NI Executive paying well over £6k in subsidies to a private childcare sector.

Following South

Despite the eye-watering sums required, the department has ruled out applying a cap to childcare fees, a model which has been introduced in the Republic.

Indeed, a narrative has developed which suggests that some providers have had little choice but to inflate their fees to meet increases to the National Living Wage, pension contributions, and employers’ National Insurance thresholds.

Is this really the best way to use taxpayers’ money? By further feathering the nests of private childcare providers, while parents struggle to meet the rising costs?

Another major proposal in the draft strategy is standaridising preschool education for all 3 to 4-yearolds to 22.5 hours per week.

Evidence suggests that exposure to early education improves educational outcomes and social and emotional development, particularly for those children who are disadvantaged.

Pending adequate funding, 75% of pre-school places are expected to be funded by 2029.

However, it is the current lack of standardisation which necessitates statutory protection for children who are ‘socially disadvantaged’ and ensures they are prioritised for places.

Despite the draft strategy overtly acknowledging the extensive benefits that children who are disadvantaged gain from early education, the minister seeks to consult on removing this core protection in September 2026.

The implication is that disadvantage would be compounded rather than alleviated for some of our youngest children.

The DUP has long criticised this essential protection, perceiving it as unfair to higher-earning parents. This, of course, overlooks the fact that the measure was designed to protect and benefit children.

My judgement is that the draft strategy, which is over 10 years in the making, is weak and ineffective and yet another example of a document full of empty promises with little chance of implementation in this mandate.

The consultation closes on March 24 2026.

NI schools facing closure as pupil numbers to drop by 12% in 10 years

MARK BAIN, Belfast Telegraph, February 5th, 2026

PLANNED CHANGES WILL IMPACT MEAL PROVISION, TEACHER JOBS AND TRANSPORT

The number of schools in Northern Ireland is set to fall over the next five years under plans from the Department of Education to reform the system following the draft budget.

With education facing a £250m shortfall this year, schools are also likely to see changes to transport and the way in which teachers are employed, with the department's five-year plan to be presented to the Assembly and Executive.

The details reveal that fewer schools are likely to be needed as the number of children of school age declines, estimated by the department to drop by 12% over the next 10 years.

The proposed changes include restructuring the school estate, which would mean more school closures or mergers over the next few years.

School transport is likely to face reform, with changes to who is judged eligible as the department bids to make savings.

Other measures proposed include switching to a cashless payment scheme for all school meals — something that already happens in many schools — and streamlining the service, with some schools sharing a single main canteen.

The way teachers are deployed is also part of the proposals, with some teachers in schools which are in financial deficit (around 70% of the school estate) facing redeployment if their own school has too many teachers. A similar scheme already operates in the Republic as a method of reducing staff costs.

There could also be major changes in the special education needs (SEN) sector in line with a recommendation from the recent independent review of Northern Ireland's education system, which said fewer classroom assistants should be employed for children with SEN.

Education Minister Paul Givan said he “wouldn't want to take forward” some of the measures, but they would be necessary if his department was not given more money when the Executive agrees a budget.

The draft budget, recently published by Sinn Fein Finance Minister John O'Dowd, has not yet been agreed by other Executive parties, but has been heavily criticised by the DUP.

Last week, the chief executives of the bodies that manage, support and provide services to Northern Ireland's schools, joined forces to call for urgent action to prevent what they say will be a catastrophic financial crisis for education.

Mr Givan said budget constraints mean all the proposed measures must be considered, with the plans to go out for public consultation. But he stressed his department was asked to produce a five-year plan by the Department of Finance in light of Mr O'Dowd's draft budget.

“There are some measures on this that I wouldn't want to take forward,” Mr Givan told BBC News NI, adding that he had no option other than responding to a draft budget he “didn't support”.

“The public will have their say, stakeholders will be able to respond to this. These proposals are what is needed to be considered if we are to create financial sustainability within education.

“If more money is allocated to my department when the Executive agrees a budget, then some of these measures will not need to be implemented.

“No decisions have been taken by me, but I am in a situation where I am already facing a £250m deficit this year. That will rise next year to £0.9bn and will increase further in the following financial year by over £1bn.”

On the proposed changes to SEN delivery in schools, he said that five years ago his department was spending £250m a year on the sector, but that had risen to £715m last year.

“I think we need to give greater flexibility to our schools so that expenditure is more effective than what it currently has been,” he said.

UUP leader and education committee member Jon Burrows said: “I'm deeply concerned by some of the proposed changes which have been seen by the BBC, but not MLAs. Let me be absolutely clear, classroom assistants are indispensable.

“Throughout North Antrim, I'm informed by teachers that a good classroom assistant is worth their weight in gold, and any loss of classroom assistants would have them seriously questioning their future in the profession. Teaching up to 35 children is already tough enough.”

At the start of this year, the EA raised the price of school meals and has also negotiated savings of almost £1m on the £40m annual bill or taxi provision to transport some children to and from school.

Concern over education minister’s plan to plug projected £1 billion-a-year funding gap

SDLP’s Cara Hunter says ‘reform of special educational needs provision urgently required’ but changes must ‘improve outcomes’

REBECCA BLACK, Irish News, February 5th, 2026

CONCERN has been expressed after the Stormont education minister published a budget plan to plug a projected £1 billion-a-year funding gap.

Paul Givan’s five-year budget strategy includes proposals such as reducing the number of schools in the region. It will also reform home to school transport, school meals delivery, and “reshape” special educational needs (Sen) support in mainstream schools, as well as introducing a new model of financial management for schools.

Mr Givan described a system “under severe and sustained strain”. He said his department’s 2025-2026 budget is £3.36 billion, more than £250 million short of what is needed.

He added that based on projected budget allocations, the gap between funding available and spending forecasts widens to more than £0.8bn by 2026/27 and more than £1.15 bn by 2028/29.

“Years of chronic underfunding and limited structural reform in service delivery have combined to create a financial crisis in education,” he said.

“I will continue to make the strongest possible case for sustained and increased investment in our education system, but the numbers tell a stark story. In the absence of significantly increased funding, financial sustainability will require significant structural reform of the education system.”

Classroom ‘must come first’

Mr Givan said its starting point was that the classroom “must come first”, but that difficult choices would be required.

“My department’s reform proposals have, therefore, been guided by the clear principle of protecting teaching and learning while we put education on a sustainable financial footing. Delivering this protection requires difficult choices,” he said.

“To be clear, we cannot close a billion pound gap, or even meaningfully reduce it through making marginal efficiencies. Nor can we contemplate largescale redundancies.

“Northern Ireland’s education system is now at a critical turning point. The proposed reform programme offers a credible and necessary roadmap to stabilise budgets, protect learning and build a sustainable, high quality system for the long term.”

He added that decisions to deliver reform “will not be easy and will require political consensus”.

“But the proposed budget allocation makes them unavoidable,” he said.

“This reform programme is not about temporary fixes. It is about reshaping the system so it is stronger, more resilient and better equipped to deliver excellent outcomes for every child, now and for generations to come.”

The proposals have been put out for public consultation.

Opposition education spokeswoman Cara Hunter said the “sweeping changes proposed” have “already caused real concern among schools and parents”.

“In the context of severe financial pressures across the department and the wider Executive, and a changing school landscape, it is clear that reform is needed,” she said.

“However, these proposals should not be used in a game of brinkmanship between Minister Givan and the finance minister.

“It is essential that the voices of schools, unions and parents are fully heard as part of this consultation.

“Proposals to close schools will inevitably cause alarm, particularly in the absence of detail, and while reform of special educational needs provision is urgently required, the minister must clearly demonstrate how these changes will improve outcomes for children and young people with Sen and support their families.”

She added: “Since taking office two years ago, Minister Givan has pursued significant changes to the education system at great speed and with little challenge from other Executive parties.

“I remain unconvinced that his approach will deliver better outcomes for schools or pupils and will continue to press for reforms that are shaped by the education sector and reflect the views of the wider public across Northern Ireland.”

Two arrested over Óglaigh na hÉireann gunshots footage

CONOR SHEILS, Irish News, February 5th, 2026

THE PSNI has arrested two men in connection with a video of dissident republicans firing shots in Derry last month.

The latest arrests come after police carried out searches of premises in the Currynierin area of the city on Tuesday.

The pair, aged 37 and 47, were arrested for offences under the Terrorism Act.

Both of the men remained in custody last night.

The incident took place on January 11 in the Tullymore Road area of Derry.

In a clip of the incident, a number of masked individuals can be seen standing next to an Óglaigh na hÉireann flag.

One of the group then can be seen firing shots into the air.

A 31-year-old was previously arrested in connection with the video.

The PSNI has appealed for anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward.

“The searches and arrests are part of our investigation into a report of, and video showing, gunshots being fired in the Tullymore Road area,” a PSNI spokesperson said.

“The video, which was circulated, shows a number of masked individuals, holding firearms, and standing next to an Óglaigh na hÉireann flag. One of the individuals fired a number of shots into the air.

The PSNI has arrested two men in connection with a video of dissident republicans firing shots in Derry last month

“I’m keen to offer assurance that our investigation is ongoing. Likewise, I’m reiterating an appeal to anyone with information to contact officers on 101, quoting reference 1489 of 11/01/26 or reference 191 of 15/01/26.”

Information can also be provided, with total anonymity, to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crime-stoppers-uk.org.

LETTERS: Irish News

Should we have an ‘Abolish the Stormont Assembly Party’ on the ballot next year?

“There is quite a sizeable minority of the electorate who would agree with the idea of abolishing the power-sharing Executive and Assembly at Stormont

THIS will be the first year that a new Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd are elected since 2021, when an ‘Abolish the Scottish Parliament Party’ and ‘Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party’ stood in each election. Of course both parties failed to win support on any major scale – securing 0.3 per cent and 3.7 per cent of the regional vote respectively – and making the one-issue, integrationist approach to Scottish and Welsh politics extremely unappealing to the Scottish and Welsh voter.

Stormont might not be able to show its worth with the electorate in Northern Ireland like the other two devolved governments could.

So, let’s just throw a wild idea out there: why don’t we create an ‘Abolish the Stormont Assembly Party’ in the upcoming 2027 elections? If you support the one-issue approach to Northern Ireland politics and elections, go right ahead.

Though no such party will be formed for next year’s elections to Stormont and local government, there is quite a sizeable minority of the electorate who would agree with the idea of abolishing the power-sharing Executive and Assembly in favour of an alternative arrangement.

That minority is not just focused among unionist voters, such as the vocal direct rule advocates in TUV. There are some nationalists and ‘other’ voters out there who would prefer some form of joint authority between London and Dublin or the re-introduction of direct rule instead of the current system of government at Stormont. That alone is a damming indictment of the mainstream political parties and the dysfunctional system that exists within the corridors of Stormont Castle.

The campaign group Act Now NI only last week raised the same concerns raised by the Electoral Commission about the fact that one in every eight MLAs have been co-opted into the Assembly. There are no by-elections for the Assembly if an MLA resigns and the political parties have been accused of abusing the co-option system in recent years. In this term of office, only one co-option has taken place because an MLA passed away – each of the others have been co-opted because an MLA resigned from office before the next election.

A truly democratic Assembly would have by-elections held to replace MLAs if they resign from office. It happens if a Westminster MP resigns in Northern Ireland, so why have one rule for one, but not for another?

If a truly democratic government existed at Stormont, we would not have a mandatory coalition which is held to ransom by the two largest parties. We would not have ministers in a government who don’t follow the basic principle of collective responsibility, as is required in any other parliamentary democracy.

We would not have a ludicrous situation where the legislature – the Assembly – could have a majority of MLAs express no confidence in the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and still not be able to remove them from office because of the rules nominating the joint heads of the Executive.

For many people, the mere concept of power-sharing in Stormont is no longer appealing to them because they want delivery above all else. To many, Stormont has shown for too long why delivery and radical reform from local ministers is almost impossible – surely direct rule ministers or joint authority from London and Dublin can do better than this?

With so many people looking in anger and dismay at Stormont’s dysfunctionality, maybe an ‘Abolish the Stormont Assembly Party’ in the next election might be a good idea after all.

EDWARD FERRIN Belfast BT14

Lockhart demands 'full review' over claim that Epstein visited Hillsborough Castle

NIAMH CAMPBELL, Belfast Telegraph, February 5th, 2026

'VICTIMS DESERVE ANSWERS,' SAYS DUP MP WITH HER PARTY ADAMANT 'THERE CAN BE NO COVER-UP'

Carla Lockhart has called for a “full review” after claiming that Jeffrey Epstein had visited Hillsborough Castle on at least one occasion.

The Upper Bann MP was speaking in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon during the political fallout over Peter Mandelson's relationship with the convicted sex offender.

Lord Mandelson was sacked from his Washington role in September last year over his links with Epstein, who died in 2019.

His continued association with Epstein following Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor had been widely reported before his return to the political front line, when he was named as ambassador in 2024.

But documents released as part of the US Department of Justice's Epstein Files have raised new concerns in recent days.

The DUP MP said: “Victims should be at the heart of this process. The allegations against someone who the Prime Minister and ministers put full trust in are also absolutely shocking.

“Jeffrey Epstein was a sick child predator and a sex offender. He visited Hillsborough Castle on at least one occasion.

“Does the Honourable Member agree that this House and the Government should have a full review of his activities while there, and an audit of his visitors during that time? The victims deserve answers.”

It comes after Ms Lockhart's party leader said that “there can be no cover-up” after the Prime Minister announced to Parliament that Lord Peter Mandelson “lied, lied and lied again” about his links to Epstein.

Gavin Robinson said that Prime Minister's Questions was “devastating” for Sir Keir Starmer, as the Labour Party leader “revealed that he was aware of Peter Mandelson's association with Jeffrey Epstein after his conviction as a paedophile”.

“He also revealed that the security services flagged their concerns, and yet he chose to believe the lies of a man who so readily associated with somebody so heinous,” Mr Robinson continued.

“Today in Parliament, the Prime Minister seeks to rely upon the blanket of national security, and yet he so readily disregarded the advice of our security services to assist the promotion of his friend.

“There can be no cover-up on this ongoing disgrace to our nation.”

Sir Keir told MPs during PMQs yesterday that Peter Mandelson had “betrayed our country” after “lying repeatedly” about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The statement follows renewed scrutiny of the links between Epstein, after his 2008 conviction, and Lord Mandelson, after the US Justice Department released a new tranche of files over the weekend.

A series of emails between Lord Mandelson and Epstein have emerged, including an exchange about strippers on the day Epstein was released from prison in 2009.

Yesterday, Sir Keir said he regrets appointing Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US, adding that he “betrayed our country”.

He said they went through security vetting during the appointment processes, but what was not known was the “depth” of Epstein and Lord Mandelson's relationship.

Sir Keir also told Parliament that the Government will release all material relating to the appointment — barring national security and “international relations” exemptions.

Lord Mandelson — a key architect of New Labour, the project that helped return Labour to power in 1997 under Tony Blair — quit the House of Lords earlier this week.

He served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 1999 to 2001.

The Prime Minister also said he had spoken to the King to have Lord Mandelson removed from the Privy Council.

At PMQs, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who has led a parliamentary push for papers relating to the appointment to be disclosed, repeatedly asked Sir Keir if he knew Lord Mandelson's friendship with Epstein had continued after the conviction.

She said: “Can the Prime Minister tell us: did the official security vetting he received mention Mandelson's ongoing relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein?”

Sir Keir replied: “Yes, it did. As a result, various questions were put to him.”

The Prime Minister told MPs: “What was not known was the depth, the sheer depth and the extent of the relationship.

“He lied about that to everyone for years, and new information was published in September showing the relationship was materially different from what we'd been led to believe. When the new information came to light, I sacked him.”

The Prime Minister has agreed to release papers on Lord Mandelson's appointment as long as they do not prejudice national security or international relations.

The Metropolitan Police had also raised issues about releasing anything that would prejudice their investigation into Lord Mandelson's alleged misconduct in public office, Sir Keir said.

But Ms Badenoch warned that the Government's attempt to amend the Tory call for full disclosure could be a cover-up, while some Labour MPs also appeared set to rebel and support the Opposition in yesterday afternoon's vote.

Ms Badenoch has tabled a humble address motion in the Commons, an arcane parliamentary mechanism to compel the Government to release documents including due diligence work carried out by the Cabinet Office and emails between Lord Mandelson and his ally Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister's chief of staff.

Sir Keir's amendment agrees to release the papers, except for anything which would jeopardise security or diplomatic ties.

Ms Badenoch warned: “This Government is trying to sabotage that release with an amendment to let him choose what we see.

“Labour MPs now have to decide if they want to be accessories to his cover-up.”

Sir Keir said the top civil servant, Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald, would lead the process of deciding what could be released.

But former deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament should be involved in deciding what is released to ensure “public confidence in the process”.

‘You’re in our country’, DUP MP tells Irish President in discussion over ‘rewriting history’

Garrett Hargan, Belfast Telegraph, February 5th, 2026

Irish President Catherine Connolly has said Derry is an example of how reconciliation can be achieved “on the ground” as she continued her visit to Northern Ireland.

She began her second day of engagements with a civic reception at the Guildhall.

She was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry, Ian Crowe, and Derry City mayor Ruairi McHugh.

Politicians in attendance included DUP MP Gregory Campbell, SDLP MLAs Sinéad McLaughlin and Mark H Durkan, and Ciara Ferguson of Sinn Fein. Fiachra McGuinness, son of Martin McGuinness, was also there.

Following her speech, Mr Campbell told the Irish president: “You’re in our country. Tonight I’m going to your country,” referencing a debate he will attend in Dublin on Thursday evening.

He added: “We’re not leaving the United Kingdom, not now or at any time in the future, so I think it’s better if we try and ensure no-one rewrites the past as we all build for the future.”

Ms Connolly said she was looking forward to visiting the Siege Museum later that day, which commemorates the 1689 Siege of Derry – when up to 30,000 Protestant people held the walled city in the face of forces from the Catholic King James II.

Mr Campbell said he wanted to “make our acquaintance to try and build on that”.

The Irish president replied: “We’re here to listen and to learn from each other and rewriting history would be…” when Mr Campbell interjected “a big mistake”, to which Ms Connolly agreed, saying: “In any country and in many countries they’ve rewritten history to suit a narrative.”

Ms Connolly told Mr Campbell she grew up in a family of 14 and there were “lots of disagreements, but we had to learn to live and love, at the end of the day we’re human beings and we have to have respect, that’s very important”.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Campbell said he “warmly welcomed her to this part of the United Kingdom” and he “always welcomes visitors, especially visitors from other countries”.

Welcoming the Irish President, Mr McHugh recognised her “long and distinguished record” of public service and “tireless commitment to equality”.

Ms Connolly said she has been to the city previously in a professional and personal capacity with family, and “always left with a feeling of wanting to return”.

City’s pivotal role in struggle for Civil Rights

In a short speech, she touched on the city’s pivotal role in the civil rights movement, the Good Friday Agreement and ongoing work in the community.

At the venue where John Hume’s Nobel peace prize is displayed, she said that the country is “indebted” to him, and the man he shared that prize with, David Trimble.

Days after the 54th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, Ms Connolly said it was important to meet with the families, adding that “justice still awaited”.

Ms Connolly praised the Bloody Sunday Trust for its work, “building bridges based on human rights” and for introducing an anti-racism charter.

She recognised the “resilience of the people of Derry”, saying it is “an example to us of the way forward”.

Ms Connolly will later visit the Museum of Free Derry where she will view the exhibition on Bloody Sunday and will meet with some 50 family members of those who were killed and injured in 1972.

The Irish president will also visit community initiatives across the city.

"The journey from conflict to peace is still ongoing,” she said, “what shines through for me is the resilience, the courage, the perseverance of you the people of Derry.

"Those characteristics have contributed in no small part to Derry's recognition as a city of the arts. A vibrant hub of creativity, embracing its rich history and looking to the future.”

Drawing from a speech by Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown, she said 2025 wasn’t a good year for humanity and there is a need to “speak truth to power”.

The Bishop talked about Derry in the context of the strong and the powerful, saying “the people who suffered in Derry have something to offer”.

Ms Connolly stated: “I absolutely agree. You are an example to us with your wit and your perseverance, the reconciliation on the ground across all communities, you are an absolute example to us of the way forward.

She added: “The weak do not have to suffer, we have voices and we can speak up. An injustice in Derry is the same as an injustice in Gaza, is the same as an injustice in Sudan. We’re all human beings at the end of the day.

“I’m deeply grateful to you in Derry for showing us that way forward; in a practical way with vision, with humour and with wit.

"I’m going to finish by saying, I think Derry is a dune that's hidden in front of our eyes, and it is for the rest of us outside of Derry to discover that dune.”

Ms Connolly’s three-day visit to Northern Ireland marks the first official visit of her presidency.

On Wednesday, she met with First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle, gave an address at Ulster University, and attended a series of community engagements.

We’re not leaving the United Kingdom…

not now or at anytime in the future,' DUP’s Gregory Campbell tells Irish president

By Claudia Savage, Belfast News Letter, February 5th, 2026

DUP MP Gregory Campbell has told Irish president Catherine Connolly “you’re in our country” and warned her against “rewriting the past” on her visit to Co Londonderry.

In a short interaction between the pair after Ms Connolly addressed the Guildhall, she said she is “here to listen” – adding “at the end of the day we’re human beings and we have to have respect”.

In her speech, the president said she is grateful to the people of Londonderry for showing “the path from conflict to peace”, adding that “justice is still awaited” by the survivors of families of victims of Bloody Sunday.

Referring to his attendance on Thursday evening at a debate in Dublin, the DUP MP for East Londonderry told the Irish president: “You’re in our country. Tonight I’m going to your country.”

He added: “We’re not leaving the United Kingdom, not now or at anytime in the future, so I think it’s better if we try and ensure no-one rewrites the past as we all build for the future.”

Ms Connolly said she was looking forward to visiting the Siege Museum later that day, which commemorates the 1689 Siege of Londonderry – when up to 30,000 Protestant people held the walled city in the face of forces from the Catholic King James II.

Mr Campbell said he wanted to “make our acquaintance to try and build on that”.

The Irish president replied: “We’re here to listen and to learn from each other and rewriting history would be…” when Mr Campbell interjected “a big mistake”, to which Ms Connolly agreed, saying: “In any country and in many countries they’ve rewritten history to suit a narrative.”

Mr Campbell added: “As you said yesterday, it would be a dull day if we agreed on everything – so there’s going to be issues where we disagree.”

Ms Connolly told Mr Campbell she grew up in a family of 14 and there were “lots of disagreements, but we had to learn to live and love, at the end of the day we’re human beings and we have to have respect, that’s very important”.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the unionist politician said he “warmly welcomed her to this part of the United Kingdom” and he “always welcomes visitors, especially visitors from other countries”.

“I was more than disappointed that in her speech there were numerous references to Derry, but not a single reference to Londonderry,” Mr Campbell said.

Omitted mention of Derry Unionist experience

“That she talked about some hardships in the province that there were, for example, with Bloody Sunday, which I would expect her to do, but no reference to the fact that where she was making those comments on the west bank of the Foyle, there’s only 5% of the population that is now Unionist because they suffered hardship and intimidation and murder as well.

“So I think she got the message, and she apologised for not making the proper references, and I hope that we can build a relationship between her country and our country.”

Asked about Ms Connolly’s repeated references to respecting all cultures on the island of Ireland made in her speech in Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Campbell said: “If she made a balanced speech yesterday, and I heard most of it and it was balanced, well, why not make a balanced speech today?

“I just hope nobody in the Department of Foreign Affairs came up with the impression ‘we’ve got to be balanced when we’re in Belfast, but see when we go to the north west, we’re playing a home game’.

“That day’s over. That day is over.

“Either we’re moving forward by agreement, which we are, then we have to reach out to each community.

“That speech didn’t and hopefully it will in the future.”

Towards the end of their interaction, the DUP MP and Irish president did agree on the importance of not rewriting history and agreed to listen to the other’s perspective.

Asked if he warmed to Ms Connolly, Mr Campbell said: “I like to think that when people hear exactly what others feel and believe and speak on, that they give them respect that hopefully they deserve, and then they can move forward with mutual respect for each other’s view.”

The president is on day two of her three-day official visit to Northern Ireland, with a number of engagements in Co Londonderry.

Ms Connolly was greeted on arrival to the Guildhall by the Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry Ian Crowe and Derry City Mayor Ruairi McHugh.

She also stopped to have a brief conversation in Irish with someone who had waited to see the president.