Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has topped the latest LucidTalk popularity poll with a 47% approval rating, while Justice Minister Naomi Long has fallen to the bottom of the Executive rankings at 33%.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly challenge the UK government on funding during the third East-West Council meeting in Belfast, focusing on trade, education, and the NI budget.
Gavin Robinson has invited new UUP leader Jon Burrows for talks on unionist co-operation. In a letter to DUP members, he said he “looks forward to working with Jon Burrows to see how our parties could co-operate and work together”.
It’s now almost certain that Jon Burrows will be the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, after the current deputy leader, Robbie Butler, confirmed that he will not be standing for the position.
Former senior police officer Jon Burrows has formally launched his campaign to become the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party on Thursday. He will run alongside Diana Armstrong, who is hoping to become the first female deputy leader of the party.
The UUP have announced that their new leader will be selected at the end of January following a vote by party members. Jon Burrows and Robbie Butler are expected to put their names forward for the position. Current leader Mike Nesbitt is stepping down to let someone else lead the party into the 2027 Assembly election.
Finance Minister John O’Dowd has published his draft multi-year budget. However, the DUP has said the budget has not received Executive approval, and the allocations “are deeply flawed and will require significant changes if they are to command our support.”
Mike Nesbitt is standing down as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. He made the decision ahead of the 2027 Assembly election, saying he cannot commit to full-time politics until the end of the next mandate.
A motion proposed by People Before Profit councillor Matthew Collins ‘in support of Pro-Palestine hunger strikers’ has passed at a special meeting of Belfast City Council. The motion has been criticised by the DUP for not relating to ratepayers, and by Alliance for giving less than two hours notice to councillors.