So, I quote the office fairly often. I suppose I've created an atmosphere where I'm a friend first and a boss second. Probably an entertainer third. I know a lot of you quote it too. And I know a lot of it is unwarranted. Tell me the times you’ve quoted the office and it’s fallen on deaf ears, it’s not landed, and how you’ve dealt with it.
So there have been a few significant announcements made since the new PM came to power. Bus fare caps and business rate cuts being the most significant. There is always a caveat that the North of Ireland will get the cash, but with our executive unable to even agree a budget it’s unlikely that real people will see real change to their lives, as they might in England.
If the UK gov keeps making these sorts of changes, that have real impact on the ground, surely people will begin to see that Stormont is delivering very little for them. Am I being too optimistic? It’s been a good while since the UK gov have been focused on tangible change to the lives of working people, but if those changes aren’t seen here then it surely will leave a very bitter taste.
So my favourite Irish idioms are ‘He’s so tight he’d squeeze a penny till the harp played’, or ‘if work was the bed he’d sleep on the floor’ but I’m interested in hearing everyone else’s. I know we are a creative bunch so I imagine there could be at least 5.
I completely condemn the hate pyres and those lowlifes that create them annually. What I do notice though, is that the media finds time and energy to discern between Islamophobia and regular old anti-Irish, anti-Catholic rhetoric, which doesn’t get a look in.
If those clowns took the mosque off the bonfire and put an effigy of the pope up NI’s high society would consider the issue resolved.
I’m not pitting Catholicism against Islam, I’m highlighting the sheer hypocrisy of the media and wider society that suddenly abhor targeting of communities, burning of symbols of identity and religious identity. I’m surprised the PSNI aren’t involved in meaningful talks to get the mosque replaced with an Ireland flag.
Leaders of the nationalist group Raise the Colours have agreed to stop hoisting England flags on lamp-posts in Oxfordshire after the local authority secured a high court injunction against the campaign.
Ryan Bridge, Ben Cullen and Trudy Wells told the high court on Tuesday they would not raise St George’s flags from Oxfordshirecounty council property, encourage others to do so or impede council workers from taking them down.
Cullen told the court that a fourth leader of the group, Kevin Good, who was not present in court, had also agreed to have “nothing more to do with flags” in Oxfordshire.
Mr Justice Dias granted the council’s application for an injunction against unauthorised flag raising by the four defendants as well as “persons unknown”.
The injunction by the Liberal Democrat-led council also bans painting flags on roads, harassing council staff involved in removing flags, and encouraging anyone in these actions.
Ryan Bridge said it was ‘a sad day for the flag of our country and what it represents’. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA
The Raise the Colours campaign has been putting up flags across the country since August last year, the court heard. Bridge, who like the other defendants was representing himself, told the court the council were using “bullying tactics” but he agreed to the proposed terms of the injunction.
He said: “It is a sad day for the flag of our country and what it represents.”
Seeking clarification from the judge about what could amount to encouraging others to raise flags from lamp-posts, he said: “My worry is that by putting a flag up for the football tonight that would be encouraging others. That’s outrageous. It’s outrageous that I’m here.”
Dias said Bridge could continue erecting flags from his own property as he was “legally entitled to do”. At the start of the hearing, Cullen said: “My position is I would still like to keep putting flags up in Oxfordshire.” Later, he said: “I will not do it in future in Oxfordshire.”
Wells said: “I’m not going to have anything to do with the flags any more.”
Documents submitted to the court by the council said it was seeking to ban “attaching flags or causing flags to be attached to highway structures; painting or marking flags on the highway; obstructing officers or contractors from removing flags from highway structures; and causing harassment, alarm or distress to officers or contractors who are or have been involved in the removal of flags from highway structures”.
The judge agreed to grant the injunction against the four defendants and persons unknown. It bans attaching flags to highway structures, painting flags on roads, harassing council staff involved in removing flags, and encouraging anyone in these actions
I know you all enjoy listening to the Nolan Show, so I've summarised the running order for you for this summer 👇
NHS waiting lists are out of control. Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson or Jim Allister.
Sinn Féin are bad, and here's why. Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson or Jim Allister.
This bonfire is controversial here's a unionist to explain why it isn't. Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson or Jim Allister.
Pride isn't inclusive unless transphobes are invited. Here’s an arsehole to tell you why. Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson or Jim Allister.
The PSNI is out of control and targeting loyalists here's the TUV to explain why. Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson or Jim Allister.
Racists have legitimate concerns. Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson or Jim Allister.
Rioters have legitimate concerns. Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson or Jim Allister.
The NHS is out of control (again). Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson or Jim Allister.
Strikes are bad because people should work for the love of it, not for money. Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson or Jim Allister.
Should UVF flags be allowed everywhere? Here's the TUV to tell you yes. Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson or Jim Allister.
John Burrows is here for the fifth time this week to gently explain why you're wrong about unionism. Feat. John Burrows.
Tune in tomorrow for:
NHS waiting lists are out of control. Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson or Jim Allister.
Sinn Féin are bad. Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson or Jim Allister.
A bonfire. Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson or Jim Allister.
The TUV. Feat. John Burrows, Jamie Bryson and Jim Allister.
John Burrows. Feat. John Burrows
Keep an eye out for Nolan sneaking in his own ‘unbiased’ opinion via the traditional "some people might say..." loophole, followed by a remarkable display of journalistic restraint in which misinformation goes entirely unchallenged, provided it's coming from the right sort of person.
Lord Grade also said a long-term failure to give “the white majority a voice in the debate” would damage social integration in Britain.
As you can see, my house has a butlers bell. It works (kind of). It’s disconnected, but when connected it rings constantly. I want to fix it but wonder if anyone has advice on how to identify where the issue is coming from. I assume one of the buttons is shorting, is it just a case of trial and error? Thanks
The usual MLAs and MPs aren’t missing their time in the UK spotlight to call for a hard land border again. Just as sinister elements are using events to suit their own violent agenda, sectarian politicians are using it to suit their political agenda.
Similar to during Brexit, the UK hacks are now discussing whether the land border is the ‘soft underbelly’ of the UK and something needs done. The usual suspects aren’t missing a chance to make hay.
I’m asking this from a genuine legal point of view rather than a political one.
In parts of Northern Ireland there are ongoing situations where public land and shared spaces are effectively taken over for things like flags on lampposts, memorial structures, large bonfires, etc, often without permission and sometimes despite obvious environmental, planning, safety or roads concerns. It happens every year, and will continue to happen every year without intervention.
A lot of residents feel that councils and other authorities either refuse to act or deliberately avoid enforcement, even when the same laws would normally be applied very strictly in other situations. It also creates the feeling that ordinary people have little protection when public spaces are damaged, obstructed or made intimidating.
My question is whether a group of residents or members of the public could realistically take legal action against a council or public authority for repeatedly failing to:
- enforce planning/environmental/public safety laws,
- protect shared public spaces,
- or apply the law consistently.
I’m wondering specifically:
Would this potentially fall under judicial review?
Do residents need to prove direct personal harm, or is ongoing failure to protect public spaces enough?
Can repeated non-enforcement or selective enforcement become unlawful in itself?
Is there any duty on councils or authorities to protect neutral/shared public space?
Have there been any similar cases in NI or the wider UK?
I’m not looking to debate the politics or culture around any of this. I’m only interested in whether public authorities can legally be challenged if people believe they are failing in their responsibilities over a long period of time.
Dodds also pointed out that it’s worse in deprived areas. And increased usage with women in particular.
A party that has done nothing for the people of this country is now confused that people are falling apart at the seams.
Any doctors on here that could prescribe the DUP a mirror?