Belfast Deputy Lord Mayor Named to National Right to Food Commission

SDLP Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Paul Doherty has been named as a commissioner on the newly established Right to Food Commission, which was officially launched at Westminster on Monday, 17 November 2025.

The Commission is a joint initiative by the Right to Food Campaign, the University of Westminster, the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), and the Food and Work Network. Its primary objective is to produce a definitive roadmap to end hunger and eliminate the need for foodbanks across the UK and Northern Ireland.

The group will gather evidence and submissions from cities including Belfast, Liverpool, and Glasgow. Councillor Doherty, who represents West Belfast, stated that he was delighted to represent Northern Ireland, noting that he witnesses the hunger in his community daily—a situation mirrored across towns and cities in the North. He stressed the importance of having policy shaped by the “lived experience” of people who have endured poverty and food insecurity.

Mr Doherty said he looks forward to working with the experts to design effective policy and legislation. After his election, Councillor Doherty successfully introduced a motion that made Belfast a 'Right to Food city'. He asserted that poverty is a result of political failure at both the Stormont Executive and Westminster, and he remains committed to eradicating it to ensure all citizens can live with dignity. The Commission aims to use the evidence gathered to strengthen the case for legislating the Right to Food in the immediate future.

Chris Hazzard Calls Farm Inheritance Tax Proposals 'Unacceptable'

Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard has vehemently criticised the British Government’s proposals for farm inheritance tax, labelling them as "unacceptable". The South Down MP made his remarks after attending an event in Westminster organised by the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU), where he joined calls for the government to withdraw the controversial measures. The proposed reforms, which could significantly alter agricultural property relief, are feared to place a major financial burden on farming families across Northern Ireland. Mr Hazzard underscored the vital contribution that family farms make to the regional economy, rural communities, and the overall food supply chain. He warned that the proposals would have "devastating consequences for rural families" and insisted that the British Government must listen to the concerns of the farming community before any "irreparable damage is done." Northern Ireland's farming sector is particularly sensitive to such tax changes due to its operational model: farms are often asset-rich but cash-poor, meaning families might be forced to sell essential land or livestock just to cover the resulting inheritance tax bills. The MP stated that the UFU’s lobbying efforts in Westminster were crucial in highlighting how vulnerable the region is to the changes. He concluded that the government must abandon the plan and ensure the long-term viability of Northern Ireland’s family farming sector.

UUP Welcomes PSNI Investigation into Presbyterian Church Safeguarding

Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA has welcomed the PSNI’s decision to launch a criminal investigation into the widespread safeguarding issues surrounding the Presbyterian Church of Ireland (PCI).

The move follows the Church's acknowledgement of serious failings within its central safeguarding functions between 2009 and 2022. Mr Beattie commented that the controversy engulfing the PCI has been exacerbated by a "lack of transparency and sense of secrecy," which has fuelled rumour, speculation, and distrust. He specifically highlighted that the Church's use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) only reinforces the feeling of a cover-up and suggests the coercion of vulnerable individuals.

While welcoming the police investigation and the Church's commitment to cooperate fully, Mr Beattie stressed the absolute necessity of allowing the PSNI time and space to conduct its investigation without interference. He warned that "divisive commentary on the case" could compromise potential criminal charges, calling it an "abdication of our duty towards any victims."

The Ulster Unionist Party has confirmed that it intends to lead a broader discussion on the improper use of NDAs. This discussion will focus on preventing these legal agreements from being used to conceal criminal or serious safeguarding actions by any organisation, including governmental bodies, ensuring greater accountability and victim protection.