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BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Sorcha Eastwood: MP rules herself out of future Alliance leadership race
Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood has ruled herself out succeeding Naomi Long as Alliance party said her name would "absolutely" not be in the mix to succeed Long, when she steps Lagan Valley MP said her current role at Westminster is "her first love".Eastwood was first elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2022, then her Westminster seat in the 2024 General Election. Long has been the leader of the Alliance Party since 2016 and spent 10 years as the party's deputy leader before that. Eastwood said seeing Long become the MP for East Belfast in 2010 made her consider getting involved in politics."Naomi has provided such incredible leadership over a really trying and difficult period in our politics" she told the Red Lines podcast. "There's a lot more to come there from her - a lot more that she wants to see delivered."In October the Upper Bann MLA Eóin Tennyson was elected as the party's deputy leader succeeding Stephen Farry."Naomi and Eóin are doing a brilliant job, and fair play to them. It's a big job to step up into that role and Eoin has done really, really, well in it." Commons' 'class divide' Eastwood said her work as MP was the "most important thing"."Being an MP is not an easy job. It is a huge role. "In some ways you are pulling a lot of the party with you because you are making big decisions on tax, national security, and foreign policy", Eastwood she also said there was a side of Westminster politics that she did not like."There is a real class divide between a lot of people in that building and the people who are coming into the building," she added."It's a palace - the Palace of Westminster." Eastwood said that coming from a working class background, "that was a real smack up the face for me"."Frankly, there's a lot of people who maybe love that pomp and ceremony and see that as maybe part of the environs they should be accustomed to. "That's not my vibe at all. You are in a building where some of the richest people, people with a lot of personal and family wealth behind them are on the frontbench of both sides. "They have made decisions that have impoverished people who I represent. They have been at the heart of some of the most impactful and damaging decisions in the last 15, 20 years." Andrew Tate legal proceedings Eastwood spoke again of her concerns that young women were being deterred from entering politics and public life because of directed online January, the Lagan Valley MP's solicitors said they were issuing legal proceedings against the controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan over online posts."It worries me that women are opting out of positions, whether it is in the public square, whether it is in elected politics, and that cannot be a situation that we countenance," she said. You can listen to Red Lines on BBC Sounds.
Scoop
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Councillors Gough And Keown Have Short Memories About Lyttelton Port Issues, Says Alliance Council Candidate
Tom Roud, Alliance Party candidate for central ward in this year's Christchurch council elections, says some councillors have 'conveniently short memories' when it comes to the port of Lyttelton. 'Whilst the Council may have set up a structure through Christchurch City Holdings Limited that maintains an 'arm's length' relationship with port management, that doesn't mean our elected representatives shouldn't be able to step in on our behalf if things are going awry,' he said. Mr Roud continued: 'there are precedents for this – during the very disruptive and acrimonious industrial dispute of 2018, I know councillors were talking to unions and I don't doubt they were talking to management. After that dispute was settled both unions and management got a very clear signal that industrial relations had to change and under the previous CEO they did'. 'Going back further, the last time the idea of selling off the port was floated our elected representatives engaged with unions and were led to understand the level of resistance such a move would generate. This was, in part, driven by concerns about the disastrous consequences privatisation would have for health and safety. Councillors were under no illusions an already questionable health and safety performance would arguably get worse,' said Mr Roud. 'More recently, during COVID the value of public ownership of such a strategic asset was demonstrated. Port management and the workforce were really clear that keeping goods moving safely across the waterfront was the priority, not short-term profitability. That view didn't just fall out of the sky. Public ownership means accountability to us, the voters and ratepayers, let's keep it that way,' he said.
Belfast Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
MP brands Belfast hairdresser's month-long detainment by US immigration officers ‘extremely concerning'
Edward Lee Stinton, known as Lee, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on June 12 in Key West, Florida, after a police traffic stop. Alliance Party MP Sorcha Eastwood, who raised a Point of Order in Westminster on Wednesday, said that the life he built 'has all come to an end' under 'the most awful circumstances'. Speaker of the House Judith Cummins said she has not been made aware of any requests for a statement at this time. Ms Eastwood told the Belfast Telegraph that her team has urged the Foreign Office to support Lee, who deserves 'dignity' and 'fairness'. 'It's impossible to comprehend the deep distress this situation has caused — not just to Lee himself, but also to his parents, his partner, his family and friends,' she said. 'We have heard some extremely concerning reports about Lee's welfare and treatment whilst he has been detained by ICE, and my team and I are raising these concerns directly with the Foreign Secretary. 'At the heart of this is a very simple truth: human rights are non-negotiable. International law applies everywhere and to everyone, and there can be no exceptions to that. 'We must never lose sight of the person at the centre of this. Lee deserves dignity, fairness and to know we are all behind him.' The former British Hairdresser of the Year was making his morning commute to work at a hair salon at the time of his arrest. Lee was taken almost four hours from Key West to a crowded detention centre in Miami, where he has remained. Lee's father said that his son was on track to obtain a Green Card and had held the necessary papers. The 46-year-old is currently being held in Krome Detention Centre, which made headlines last month after detainees were seen signalling 'SOS', prompting concerns over conditions. Lee moved to Florida over six years ago after marrying his US-born partner DeVaun Davis. DeVaun told the Keys Weekly of the poor conditions his partner has experienced at the detention centre. 'No beds. One wooden bench. People slept on the floor. Lee is a vegan and didn't get any vegan food until he'd gone without eating for four days,' Davis said. 'It wasn't until Congressman Carlos Gimenez announced he was planning to visit Krome the next day that Lee finally got moved into a pod with a cot and fewer people and finally got a change of clothes and vegan food.' DeVaun confirmed that Lee had overstayed his visa seven years ago but that it was never flagged as he reapplied for residency and that 'things were proceeding'. A GoFundMe page set up by Lee's mum, Elaine, has seen almost £3k raised due to the 'astronomical amount' of costs, which she 'struggles' to meet, required to support her son. Fears bonfire could cut power supply to Belfast hospital The hairdresser is just one of at least 56,000 ICE detainees that have been jailed so far as authorities work tirelessly to fulfil President Trump's vow to deport millions. Notable figures detained include a New York mayoral candidate, Brand Lander, as well as renowned TikTok personality Khaby Lame, with officers averaging seven arrests a day. Trump's administration has additionally passed a 'megabill' to the tune of $170bn for border and immigration enforcement to be spent in the next three and a half years. The crackdown has sparked a spate of protests across the US, seeing crowds clashing with law enforcement, and military being called to the streets to assume order.
BreakingNews.ie
08-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Concern after Loyalist bonfire in Belfast is sited close to electricity substation
Concern has been expressed over the siting of a loyalist bonfire close to an electricity substation in Belfast. The location of the towering pyre is also close to two major Belfast hospitals. Advertisement NIE Networks said it has put mitigations in place at the substation to reduce the risk of damage, while the Belfast Health Trust said it is working to mitigate any impact on patient care or treatment. Stormont Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole, who represents South Belfast, also expressed concern around the presence of asbestos on the site. The issue of the bonfire at Donegall Road exposes the democratic scandal of how this place works. There is a credible risk to public health but neither the responsible Alliance environment minister, UUP health minister nor any Executive party will say anything. Why not? — Matthew O'Toole (@MatthewOToole2) July 8, 2025 'The issue of the bonfire at Donegall Road exposes the democratic scandal of how this place works,' he said in a post on the social media network X. 'There is a credible risk to public health but neither the responsible Alliance environment minister, UUP health minister nor any Executive party will say anything. Why not?' Advertisement In a statement, the Belfast Trust said it is 'currently working to mitigate any impact on patient care or treatment, and has notified NIE of concerns around any potential outage'. 'Senior engineers will remain on site at Belfast City Hospital during the eleventh night,' they added. 'Discussions are ongoing with all relevant agencies.' A bonfire has been built on Broadway Industrial Estate off Donegal Road in south Belfast, ahead of events to mark July 12th. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. NIE Networks said it has met with relevant stakeholders to express its concerns over the bonfire's proximity to the substation causing potential risk to critical infrastructure and power outages. Advertisement 'Mitigations have been put in place, including turning off the transformers adjacent to the bonfire, building scaffolding with metal sheeting around the transformers and placing steel plates on open cable ducts to reduce the risk of fire and damage,' they said. 'Whilst these mitigations are in place, there will be a reduction in security of supply for the area. 'We would remind the public that flames near to power lines and electricity substations pose serious risk to everyone's safety and wellbeing.' The bonfire, just off the Donegall Road, is one of an estimated 300 set to be lit across July 10-11 in Northern Ireland. Advertisement Most of the bonfires, which are normally lit ahead of loyal order parades across the region on July 12, pass off without incident. However the fires, ranging from towering structures to beacons, have sparked anger following the burning of flags, effigies and election posters in the past. One of the tallest bonfires in recent years has been at Craigyhill in Larne, which reportedly reached 62 metres in 2022.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Concern after Loyalist bonfire in Belfast is sited close to electricity substation
Concern has been expressed over the siting of a loyalist bonfire close to an electricity substation in Belfast. The location of the towering pyre is also close to two major Belfast hospitals. NIE Networks said it has put mitigations in place at the substation to reduce the risk of damage, while the Belfast Health Trust said it is working to mitigate any impact on patient care or treatment. Stormont Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole, who represents South Belfast, also expressed concern around the presence of asbestos on the site. The issue of the bonfire at Donegall Road exposes the democratic scandal of how this place works. There is a credible risk to public health but neither the responsible Alliance environment minister, UUP health minister nor any Executive party will say anything. Why not? — Matthew O'Toole (@MatthewOToole2) July 8, 2025 'The issue of the bonfire at Donegall Road exposes the democratic scandal of how this place works,' he said in a post on the social media network X. 'There is a credible risk to public health but neither the responsible Alliance environment minister, UUP health minister nor any Executive party will say anything. Why not?' In a statement, the Belfast Trust said it is 'currently working to mitigate any impact on patient care or treatment, and has notified NIE of concerns around any potential outage'. 'Senior engineers will remain on site at Belfast City Hospital during the eleventh night,' they added. 'Discussions are ongoing with all relevant agencies.' NIE Networks said it has met with relevant stakeholders to express its concerns over the bonfire's proximity to the substation causing potential risk to critical infrastructure and power outages. 'Mitigations have been put in place, including turning off the transformers adjacent to the bonfire, building scaffolding with metal sheeting around the transformers and placing steel plates on open cable ducts to reduce the risk of fire and damage,' they said. 'Whilst these mitigations are in place, there will be a reduction in security of supply for the area. 'We would remind the public that flames near to power lines and electricity substations pose serious risk to everyone's safety and wellbeing.' The bonfire, just off the Donegall Road, is one of an estimated 300 set to be lit across July 10-11 in Northern Ireland. Most of the bonfires, which are normally lit ahead of loyal order parades across the region on July 12, pass off without incident. However the fires, ranging from towering structures to beacons, have sparked anger following the burning of flags, effigies and election posters in the past. One of the tallest bonfires in recent years has been at Craigyhill in Larne, which reportedly reached 62 metres in 2022.
