The smarter move for Burrows would be to seek to build a broader consensus with a range of parties on the issues they can cooperate on. If he wants to squeeze Alliance and pull back some of that eroded UUP ground, he needs to look pluralistic, not entrenched.

if the Labour defector to Reform is Kate Hoey that would be the dampest squib ever

Respectfully, most people would struggle to pick Robert Jenrick or María Corina Machado out of a lineup. Not saying the stories aren’t interesting - they’re compelling drama but they’re being profiled far, far above their public interest value.

Telling, isn’t it, that we can geoblock the RTÉ player on the basis of commercial broadcasting licenses for a football match but the UK Government is on the fence about geoblocking a different website which is creating sexualised images of children. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I’m unlikely to be competing in the Commonwealth Games so the flag doesn’t really bother me. This reaction is instructive though - for all the unionist political parties demanding (rightly) to know what compromises will be made in a new Ireland, they’re unwilling to make ANY themselves today.

An early front runner for bizarrest story of the year here www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

No.

A religious experience at the Mayhem Ball 🙌

For the day that’s in it - on the subject of flags and politics.

Apparently “leading” lawyers and “experts” say that the Good Friday Agreement is no obstacle to UK leaving ECHR. Me, being neither, merely sets out what the Good Friday Agreement expressly says. davidallengreen.com/2023/07/why-...

Go get your nut, girl.

Awestruck. I want to be Sharleen Spiteri when I grow up.

Getting gayed up ahead of Lurgan pride.

Our mission is to build a new Ireland by winning a referendum. That means we need to understand the needs, hopes, concerns and fears of everyone but particularly people in the middle who are open to change. @columeastwood.ie speaking to @dmcbfs.bsky.social at Féile an Phobail.

One good shot makes an hour of cursing yourself worthwhile 😅

Imagine being the person at the International Criminal Court that has to read these every day 🤯

Escaping the city for a few hours with my beach babes.

Scissor sisters were 🤩✨

Protests and pints 🍻 🏳️‍⚧️

Few snaps from the wedding last week.

In other decades this would be an era-defining scandal with hearings on the Hill and possible legal consequences. This will run for a day on Twitter and everyone will admit they can't do anything. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

[Photo Thread] Our Belfast. Racists try to organise again and get severely outnumbered again.

Date night 💕

The cuts to disability support are cruel, immoral and unethical. It’ll make already vulnerable people poorer, less independent and more isolated. After fighting to get rid of the Tories for 14 years, what was the point if Labour are going to do this?

Sometimes it’s just a coffee and cartoons Sunday morning ☕️

Michael McGrath is right - it’s not inconceivable that an emboldened Putin will move on other Eastern European territory. That’s a real threat that we should be prepared for. www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

There’s so much in this that’s wild but the ‘thank you for your attention to this matter’ sign off is so weird. Folksy fascist vibes.

Welcome news that the Irish Government is engaging in the detailed work of examining the cost of harmonising services in a New Ireland. This practical preparation is essential and will help build the case for change. www.irishnews.com/news/norther...

Lads lads lads ⚽️

“If Roosevelt had told Churchill to sue for peace on any terms with Adolf Hitler and to fork over Britain’s coal reserves to the United States in exchange for no American security guarantees, it might have approximated what Trump did to Zelensky.” www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/o...

Would very much like to be back in the sun plz.

She’s started adopting this psychiatrist pose in the evening and it’s really disconcerting #catsofbluesky

Good first episode last week - lots of interesting points about opposition 2016/17 and today. And a few robust exchanges on MLA pay 👀

I met Ukrainian Parliamentarians, including the Opposition, last week at the OSCE in Vienna. Their message was clear - they do not support Donald Trump’s call for an election while they’re defending their country from Russian aggression. The only dictator in this conflict is Putin.

This week’s office

The gap between support for Irish unity and Northern Ireland staying in the UK has narrowed to 7% in the past year new poll finds. m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politic...

Research shows that LGBTQ+ inclusion can drive economic activity. Open For Business’ latest report shows the economic case for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Poland: open-for-business.org/poland

The new Children’s Hospital will be delivered 10 years late at the earliest and is expected to cost almost half a billion more than anticipated (around £421m over-budget before a spade’s in the ground). This was supposed to be an Executive ‘flagship’ project in 2013. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Housing in Northern Ireland: is housebuilding at a sixty-year low? Yes, according to evidence. According to the ONS, the total number of new homes finished in 2023 was 5,380 – the lowest number of completions since 1959, when the figure was 4,890.

In breaking news (or mews?) I think she may have missed us…

Racking up the gay reads by the pool.

Insane www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

It’s a hard life but someone has to do it…

Who had ‘deport the bishops’ on their bingo card? thehill.com/homenews/hou...

You can’t plan for the future unless you plan for Irish Unity. That’s the big role the next Irish Government has. Enjoyed speaking to @dsmooney.bsky.social last week @newireland.bsky.social. Catch up on the full podcast here open.spotify.com/episode/0oKK...

We love a cocktail 🍸

I LOVE THIS SHOW SO MUCH #TheTraitors

Feeling like a husk. But what a great weekend celebrating Clíona’s hen do. Beautiful, hilarious, fizzy (my blood is still about 68% Prosecco) memories with great friends.

NEW: As Parliament kicks back into gear after Christmas, Kim Leadbeater’s assisted dying bill now enters a crucial stage of scrutiny. Today she’s announcing that the bill committee will hear three days of oral evidence on 28, 29, 30th Jan - that’s an extra day added to hear from expert witnesses.

It is understood that the drugs will continue to be prescribed to children experiencing precocious puberty www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/chariti...