UUP Leader Warns ECHR Withdrawal Would 'Destabilise' Peace Agreement

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Mike Nesbitt MLA has strongly criticised comments by Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch regarding her intention to withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Mr Nesbitt argued that any such move would be a "strategic mistake" that cuts across the principles of the 1998 Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

The UUP leader stressed that the Convention is not an "optional extra," but is fundamentally "written into the Agreement as part of the rights and safeguards that underpin peace and stability" in Northern Ireland. He warned that walking away from the ECHR would be "destabilising, destructive and potentially undermining of Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom."

Mr Nesbitt suggested that the real issue with the ECHR lies in how it is interpreted by UK courts, not the Convention itself. He dismissed Ms Badenoch's stance as being driven by her party's "insecurity and hard turn right to combat Nigel Farage," rather than a genuine focus on policy. He urged the Conservative leadership to reconsider their position, respect the terms of the Belfast Agreement, and focus on strengthening the Union through stability and integrity.

SDLP Demands Urgent Action On Fuel Poverty And Damp Housing Crisis

SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA has made an urgent call for the Executive to act on fuel poverty, improve energy efficiency, and address the growing problem of damp in homes across Northern Ireland.

Speaking after an Assembly motion on household energy costs, Mr Durkan painted a grim picture of thousands of families facing "fear of colder weather, higher bills and impossible choices" as autumn sets in.

Mr Durkan highlighted the devastating state of social housing, noting that over the last three years, the Housing Executive has received 40,000 reports of damp, yet many homes remain in "shocking conditions". He pointed to areas like Westway in Creggan, where delays in insulation works have left older housing stock to "mould and decay," leading to health issues such as persistent coughs, COPD, and asthma among residents. He also raised concerns over new families, including those with newborn babies, being placed in temporary accommodation so damp it is "unfit for anyone." The MLA criticised the government's flagship Affordable Warmth Scheme, stating it is "underfunded and overwhelmed." He noted that in the 2023/24 period, only 24% of applicants received support, despite millions of pounds in available funding through Barnett consequentials, which he described as "simply unacceptable." The SDLP is demanding a statutory fuel poverty target for Northern Ireland, a social energy tariff for low-income households, and proper investment in retrofit programmes to ensure a "Just Transition" that does not leave vulnerable families behind. He concluded that every cold and damp home represents a "failure of policy and failure on delivery at the hands of the Executive."

Time for a Citizens' Assembly on reform of NI Institutions, says Guy

Alliance MLA Michelle Guy has said the time has come for progress to be made on reforming the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive, arguing that a Citizens' Assembly is an essential part of making that progress.

The Lagan Valley MLA was speaking after the latest meeting of the Assembly Executive Review Committee (AERC), which showed support for her proposal to explore the next steps in establishing a Citizens’ Assembly.

Ms Guy said: "Alliance has led the campaign on calling for reform of our institutions, and after hearing expert evidence from the AERC Committee yesterday, Tuesday, 7 October, it is evident that our institutions can no longer remain stuck and refusing to change.

“While we’ve enjoyed relative political stability since the restoration of government, the concern remains that Sinn Féin and the DUP have no intention of giving up their ability to collapse the institutions at their will, despite, clear public appetite for change.

“During yesterday’s committee, it was evident that no single party can be expected to implement reform of our institutions. That’s why Alliance has proposed the establishment of a Citizens’ Assembly to give time and space for civic conversations on this issue, outside of the political arena.

"Our Assembly and Executive need to change and adapt to meet the needs of the public, but we are bound to a system that benefits vested interests, and we need to do better.

“I am very glad there was agreement from the Committee in support of looking at how a Citizens' Assembly could be established. A Citizens’ Assembly could provide much needed momentum and confidence that change is welcomed and, more importantly, needed. It would provide a chance for a representative group of our population to be heard in detail on reform proposals and allow parties to better understand what changes are backed by the public.

“Making these institutions work better for people couldn't be more important. People here deserve better than having their politics and their future held to ransom, and Alliance will continue to be the advocate for reform."