The UK government has today announced it will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote at the next general election, in what is a major change to the democratic system being introduced by the new Elections Bill.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, will announce her budget on Wednesday in the House of Commons – the first since Labour’s landslide victory in this year’s general election.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden MP has made his first visit to Northern Ireland after being appointed as Minister for Intergovernmental Relations. He met with Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly alongside NI Secretary Hilary Benn.
Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi will be the new chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee after she was elected unopposed, the Speaker of the House of Commons announced on Monday.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner arrived at Hillsborough Castle for her first visit to Northern Ireland since Labour’s victory in the general election, to meet with Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed Fleur Anderson as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Northern Ireland Office, as part of the new Labour government.
With Labour expected to come into power later this year, their Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has been meeting with ministers and parties at Stormont.
The motion for a ceasefire in Gaza has been rejected by a majority of MPs, whilst Labour sees a wave of frontbenchers resign after defying the Labour leader.
The appointment is part of Keir Starmer’s frontbench reshuffle, in which he also appointed Hilary Benn as Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary.
