David Thompson

Political Editor, Belfast News Letter

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

Exclusive: UUP says it will not support Northern Irish children taking part in a controversial UK puberty blocker trial

The scheme got the go-ahead in the courts, but NI participation "remains suspended", DoH has said.

https://t.co/Qi0qUinClv

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

Fivemiletown cattle cull: Minister Andrew Muir slams 'highly irresponsible and very misleading' commentary - as well as threats to DAERA staff
https://t.co/RLtLYNjZTH

[teresa smith @treesey]

Journalists really should start asking Stonewall why they misled so many, many people about the Equality Act for so many years.

They still haven’t apologised for creating this mess.

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

Economist questions community sector employment schemes - as £26m spend gets just 2218 in work for 6 months https://t.co/W1RSGoBPVW

[Róisín Michaux @RoisinMichaux]

"Did you consider coming out in defence of those women, at all?"

I asked Mary Lou McDonald and the Lord Mayor of Belfast (both of @sinnfeinireland) about the exclusion of Women's Rights Network Northern Ireland from this year's Féile festival in West Belfast. @ni_wrn

[Helen Joyce @HJoyceGender]

Our police are out of control. This simply shouldn't be happening in a democracy

[Fiona @DerryBanShee]

This editorial in the @News_Letter is very good.

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

Emergency meeting to be held at Stormont as UUP demand answers over 'deeply disturbing' farm incident

The UUP want a full committee recall - but the minister has requested a meeting with the body's chair and his deputy

https://t.co/7LpszXfUzN

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

Equality Commission chief praised for 'common sense' statement in wake of Féile an Phobail ban on women's group

https://t.co/3ouFJ2z6tH

[Daniel Sugarman @Daniel_Sugarman]

Last month, Diane Abbott stood up at a conference in London and described Ukraine’s defence against Russian invasion as, and I quote, “the NATO campaign against Russia” (watch from the 1 minute mark).

Labour are genuinely mad to let her back in.

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

A really interesting intervention from Equality Commission chief executive Geraldine McGahey in the wake of the Féile controversy

“Commentary that encourages harassment of people because of such beliefs is especially dangerous and must be condemned” https://t.co/rHcxxWfPBD

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

Sir Chris Bryant says Irish Sea border arrangements are 'pretty much settled' and NI should 'exploit' the deal

He declined to say whether it is credible that the legal definition of a woman could be different in Northern Ireland than the rest of the UK

https://t.co/8TAUCRvekv

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

Ulster Unionists express caution over PSNI's 'live' discussion on an apology to gay people for historic treatment

Diana Armstrong says there's a distinction between apologising for unfair treatment and for officers lawfully upholding the law of the time

https://t.co/kSKuvwIOHY

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

Unionist MLA welcomes 'resolution' over Féile row - as Stormont mooted as potential new venue for Women's Rights Network event*

*that would need a nationalist MLA to sign it off, and none have offered any support to the group.

https://t.co/QMe1vwzdva

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

Féile an Phobail row: Women's Rights Network say event to go ahead 'at alternative venue'

https://t.co/yqtzEMMh3K

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

GAA grounds could fall under any new football hooligan laws after Jamie Bryson legal case against Stormont's justice department

https://t.co/5zkZFBB4IM

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

Tories would replicate Irish government's immigration checks at NI border - @alexburghart says Dublin has shown they are 'possible and necessary'

https://t.co/Uffas6D9L0

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

Prides across the UK have struggled to attract corporate sponsors, due to the stances they take on various matters.

BBC reports that’s not the case in Belfast, where Pride made a “decision not to accept corporate sponsorship”. https://t.co/RC8oSiwR8w

[Paul Murphy @PaulMur94009551]

@NewsLetter_Pols I think this is fair. A lot of people from the nationalist community think our political leadership class have been found out on this one - and have a sneaking regard for the ‘prods’ common sense and clarity: let women speak. Simple.

[David Thompson @davidtjourno]

The Féile debacle shows Irish nationalism has a problem with letting women speak https://t.co/ujYcDgXEgj