If you only pay "tax" when you want to, and according to a special agreement with the government, it's not tax. It's a special arrangement, just for you. There are no tax calculations shown. So it's meaningless. To me this is obvious. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

...the SDLP, and Pat Catney's team, though I joined for many other reasons than him, and campaigned for Pat when he stood against Jeffrey in the 2015 GE. Jeffrey would then call me his "enemy".

...another example of his ideas not lining up with Biblical Christian faith (otherwise the verse "While we were sinners, Christ died for us" is null and void). Eventually I concluded he was actually an obstacle to Christian witness and needed to be unseated; I joined...

...typically, then, when we found an issue we disagreed on, I would try to reason only to be frustrated as he would then abruptly end the exchange. One thing that struck me was his insistence the "Christian" thing was to forgive but this depended on the offender repenting...

...Romans 13:1-5 ("...rulers do not bear the sword for no reason..."). It seemed a powerful Biblical reply. Naively, though, I tried to reason with him, explaining the historical context & more to the point Jesus' refusal to carry out the stoning of the woman in John 8:1-11...

...to the extent that I voted for him in the Assembly elections as did many of my family. However as time went on I became less impressionable and his replies often just did not line up with Biblical Christianity, e.g. on capital punishment - he very much was in favour citing...

...received many replies where he sent copies of letters from cabinet ministers in return to him writing on my behalf. He did a lot of work on issues from mobility allowance for my late father to water rates to fairtrade issues & racist attacks. I was impressed. ...

...unbalanced. I am not sure that I should be responding to such prejudice. Perhaps its best if we just bring our correspondence to an end.". I continued to correspond & we found agreement on many many issues, particularly lobbying for persecuted Christians abroad. I also...

...had offended him, some other relevant things and that I hoped our correspondence could continue and be more "real". By this time I was his constituent. He had said to me in the same email " I think you are motivated by a personal prejudice towards me which is unhealthy and...

...to your Member of Parliament? Did God lay it on your heart to call me a hypocrite and talk of falsehood when at such a critical time a Christian might have chosen Paul's exhortation to 'encourage one another'??". I said I did pray but possibly not enough, apologised if I ...

...the paramilitary godfathers whose campaign of murder and destruction cost taxpayers countless billions of pounds.". He added: "Did you pray before you wrote this email and did you seek God's guidance before making such cutting and distorted remarks...

...in which he said I needed to get a grip on reality, he didn't create Drumcree, "it was Gerry Adams who said that it had been deliberately planned by republicans to create confrontation. I wasn't actually blaming the Government for the security costs, but...

...added to the problem by hyping up the pressure at places like Drumcree, making increased security necessary! Is it not breathtakingly hypocritical now then to blame them for increased costs during this period? "Let us take off falsehood". This drew a furious response...

...I responded saying "As I asked your party leader once, "Why should you be demanding that the government take off the "kid gloves" to deal with the IRA"? (I received no answer). Your party has been responsible in no small part for escalating these costs. You personally have...

...another side to him - he could brow-beat & try to intimidate me into agreeing with him, selectively quoting Scripture. For example, once he casually asked "why should the people of NI have to pay for the neglect under direct rule that arose from the huge costs in security?"..

...at his apparently thoughtful, lengthy replies and willing ness to engage on a range of issues. He did appear to me as a person of integrity, with strong Christian values, willing to stand up publicly for them but inevitably as I matured and engaged more fully on issues I saw..

...newspaper cuttings from The Times supporting, as he saw it, his stance. So began 29 years of engagement, 100s of emails and two meetings in person. There was sthg of a character clash between us in that we were both quite stubborn & held strong views but I was impressed...

I first engaged with Jeffrey Donaldson in 1995, posting a letter to him critical of him tearing up the Downing St Declaration. It was an attempt to confront what I saw as unreasonableness in the midst of our tentative peace process. He replied with a lengthy typed letter and...

Sam McBride: You can hear the full unedited audio of loyalist paramilitaries (unsuccessfully) ordering me out of 'their' area, with film footage shot by Sky News above capturing pt of the incident.These are the people we need to reject - not foreign nurses. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video/sam-mc...

Do not fret because of those who do evil, or be envious of those who do wrong. For like the grass, they will soon wither, like green plants, they will soon die away. Trust in The Lord and do good, dwell in the land & enjoy safe pasture.

Do we really need to spend more than £2.5bn on nuke jets at a time of deteriorating, cash-starved public services and so many in a cost-of-living crisis? I don't think so. Do you? cnd.eaction.org.uk/StopBritains...

Remarkably insightful, accurate and balanced for an Englishman(!) about Northern Ireland and our difficult week. care.org.uk/news/2026/06...

Belfast knife attack suspect Hadi Alodid was granted asylum under a fast-track application scheme introduced by two of Nigel Farage's senior colleagues. It meant he'd only to complete a Home Office questionnaire rather than attend a face-to-face interview.

Fact checker: All you need to know around immigration and crime in Northern Ireland. Swipe through the graphics to find out more, or to read more go to: tinyurl.com/2fj78aek

Don't tolerate the media legitimising thugs who attack people for the colour of their skin. They aren't 'anti-immigration campaigners' like the BBC said this morning, they are violent scumbags. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

Sorry, @bbcnews.bsky.social , this is NOT Belfast! It is the Antrim Rd, outskirts of Glengormley as it approaches Sandyknowes roundabout in Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim. Please check your facts before broadcasting.

Again @reformukscotland.bsky.social , How many of these "peaceful protests" are notified to the council and how can you be sure these protests will not turn violent? Also, are you calling for protestors not to wear masks? Can I go into town safely tonight? Please answer.

This is the Belfast I know and love - friendly, welcoming and peaceful.

Both streets attacked by loyalist mobs. The difference is in 2026 the Police and Fire Brigade actually turned up to protect residents and hose down their houses...

@reformukscotland.bsky.social are calling on people to come out on the streets of Glasgow and "protest peacefully". How many of these protests are notified to the council, how can they ensure they don't turn violent and are they calling on protestors not to wear masks?

So @ReformUKScot are telling people to go out on the streets of Glasgow tonight to "protest peacefully". How many of these protests are notified to the council and how can you be sure these protests will not turn violent? Also, are you calling for protestors not to wear masks?

Moog trains genocide pilots through M-346 trainer aircraft component production across the UK. Take action to oppose this and email your MP now: caat.org.uk/take-action/...

These thugs try to take over our streets & they tell us they're protecting us from violent foreigners. Well, it takes one to know one! Good to see the Police out in numbers, sad they have to be there. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

My thoughts and prayers are with the totally innocent individuals & families attacked on the basis of the colour of their skin. Truly disgusting behaviour towards those we should welcome with open arms. Reminds me of the start of The Troubles. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Truly shocking ugly scenes from my hometown Belfast. If people insist on being knuckle-dragging mouth breathers, they must face the full force of the law. Is this not also symptomatic of a society that continually fails to deal with paramilitarism but rather accommodates it?

www.17-minute-languages.com/en/ I've found this to be a fun way to learn a language...

The Railways Bill comes back to parliament on 3rd June. We have just a few days to make sure MPs back amendments to protect passengers' rights and our environment. I've emailed my MP. Can you take 2 minutes now to email your MP? @we_ownit weownit.org.uk/act-now/prot...

In the Ulster Protestant Evangelical community it can seem almost impossible to disagree with an older male relative on politics. Half-truths are told in such a way it's gospel, so how dare you say otherwise. In this regard I have much respect for Trevor. www.irishnews.com/news/norther...

Edwin Poots is refusing to explain a highly irregular decision which makes little sense & has tens of millions of pounds riding on it. Stormont's Speaker says we've no right to know why he acted as he did. Amid growing questions, this may end up in court.

... care.org.uk/news/2026/05... (2/2)

I find Tony Blair's comments on AI somewhat sensationalist & his approach to AI ethics alarmingly dismissive. By contrast, The Pope is asking the right questions & Peter Ladd's analysis is helpful - "Economic growth is not the same as human flourishing":... (1/2)

Celtic 3 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic FT Deserved victory. Sporting & magnanimous touch by Neil Lennon #scottishcup

Celtic 3 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️

Celtic 3 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic ⚽️⚽️⚽️Maith thú!

Celtic 2 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic HT Two great goals. Deserved lead. Feel a bit sorry for Neil Lennon. ⚽️⚽️#ScottishCupFinal

Take two minutes to email your local MP and ask them to oppose the UK-France 'one in, one out' Agreement help.care4calais.org/page/191519/...

Celtic 3 - 1 Hearts FULL TIME. Deserved win & title.