Political News
New mayors appointed with Sinn Féin and DUP leading most NI councils
Councils across Northern Ireland have now appointed new mayors and deputy mayors for the 2026/27 term, the last year of the four-year mandate they have until the election next year. Sinn Féin and the DUP hold the mayor position in almost all councils.
Doug Beattie quits Ulster Unionist Party citing ‘toxic atmosphere’ and ‘dismissive leadership’
Doug Beattie has quit the UUP, saying his position ‘is no longer tenable’. In a letter to party leader Jon Burrows, he says a ‘toxic atmosphere has been allowed to flourish’. He will serve the remainder of his term as an independent.
SDLP: Patsy McGlone not contesting next Assembly election
An MLA since 2003, Patsy McGlone will retire at the end of this Assembly mandate. He is the SDLP’s longest-serving politician in the Assembly, and has been described as a ‘stalwart’.
Elections
2027 Assembly Election
2024 General Election
2023 Local Council Election
Your Representatives
Councils are responsible for local services such as waste collection, leisure centres, parks, planning, environmental health and community development. They cannot make laws. Councillors are elected using Single Transferable Vote (STV) every four years.
The Assembly is the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland, based at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. There are 90 members that are elected from 18 constituencies. The MLAs make laws on devolved matters such as health, education, justice, infrastructure and agriculture. MLAs are elected every five years using STV.
The UK Parliament is the highest legislative authority and NI is represented by 18 Members of Parliament. MPs make decision on reserved and excepted matters, which include defence, foreign policy, immigration and taxation and welfare. MPs are elected every five years in a general election using First Past the Post (FPTP)
