"The underlying point is that, given the history, there was nothing like sufficient trust that the UK state could, or would, provide the safeguards and protections of minority rights in Northern Ireland, and that remains the case today."

ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...

✍️ @andrewgmccormick.bsky.social explains the political and historical reasons why the European Convention on Human Rights is an integral part of the peace settlement in Northern Ireland

The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and Human Rights - UK in a changing Europe Andrew McCormick explains the role ECHR membership plays in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement.

"Hence, however strong and clear British legislation on human rights might be, it would require only one general election to make it null and void, if a majority in a new parliament was to so decide."

"The uniqueness of the UK constitution further underscores this. Its foundation is the sovereignty of Parliament, which means that no parliament can bind its successor."

@andrewgmccormick.bsky.social on the political & historical reasons why the ECHR is integral to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement

The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and Human Rights - UK in a changing Europe Andrew McCormick explains the role ECHR membership plays in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement.

"The underlying point is that, given the history, there was nothing like sufficient trust that the UK state could, or would, provide the safeguards and protections of minority rights in Northern Ireland, and that remains the case today."

ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...

✍️ Andrew McCormick explains the role ECHR membership plays in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement.

NEW Pivotal report - Policy delivery in Northern Ireland

How do we make sure policy goals are achieved in practice? We asked 30 former senior civil servants, ministers, business and voluntary sector leaders to tell us about their experiences and ideas.

www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...

Pivotal media statement on UK Spending Review

Read Pivotal's statement on yesterday's UK Spending Review.
"The Spending Review gives Northern Ireland a 3-year funding settlement but means difficult choices ahead. The money will have to be spent wisely, with strong emphasis on public service transformation"
www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...

Excellent article by Gideon Rachman!

If you still believe, after today‘s UN resolution, that Trump will change his mind, just as soon as the Europeans finally spend more on defence, I can‘t help you.
Of course Europe must spend more on defence. But not as a gesture to please Trump. To protect ourselves & stand on our own 2 feet.

After we let Russia occupy part of your country and steal your resources, we will occupy the other part and do the same. Quite the starting point for the Americans.

Nick Thomas-Symonds at UK-EU forum calls for ‘ruthless pragmatism’. Which is at least less oxymoronic than ‘progressive realism’

Brian Feeney: Unity is the Irish state’s constitutional imperative, so why aren’t Simon Harris and Micheál Martin planning for it? They ignore the central point of the Good Friday Agreement

www.irishnews.com/opinion/bria...
Self determination happened in May 1998 when the people of Ireland, N and S, voted for the GFA, which accepted that Irish Unity is subject to the consent of a majority in the north, and created new NS institutions to share aspects of administration. @irishnews.com

Essential reading - much here that could be helpful to the Executive in the current challenging context.

Ambulance handover delays in England may harm 1,000 patients a day Exclusive: 414,137 people believed to have experienced some level of harm in last year, Guardian analysis finds

The astonishing cognitive dissonance of a health secretary who insists he'll save the NHS - yet kicks the social care crisis into touch until 2028.

1 in 8 medically fit NHS patients cannot leave hospital for lack of social care.

Of course A&E is overwhelmed 🤷‍♀️

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

So where do we go from here? Devolution is a work in progress – need to build relationships and trust. Strong leadership is vital, including a full commitment to continued operation of the institutions. Must have a joint focus on improving the big issues that affect people’s lives day to day 7/

Devolution of justice in 2010 including cross-community support for policing was big milestone. Otherwise difficult to name significant successes. Some strong sectors e.g. screen, IT, tourism. Some welfare mitigations. NI politicians good at getting extra funding from UK Govt 6/

When has devolution worked well? Leadership, trust, courage and relationships have all been important, as is a constructive and business-like attitude to getting on with the job. Probably the most effective period was 2007-11, which was Paisley/McGuinness then Robinson/McGuinness 5/

Unstable govt does not make for good govt. Parties have struggled to work with common purpose or to make strategic decisions for the long-term. Unpopular choices have been avoided e.g. health reform, water funding, public finances. Big challenges remain e.g. productivity, housing, reconciliation 4/

The institutions have been very unstable – absent for more than 40% of the time since 1999, including 5 out of last 8 years. Power-sharing between parties who have hugely different views has not surprisingly been very difficult to sustain. The threat of collapse is never far away 3/

Devolution was a momentous time with high expectations. Local Ministers taking decisions about local issues was and remains the preferred form of government here, rather than the direct rule that preceded it. It may be difficult, but for now it’s the best option available 2/

It’s 25 years today since powers were devolved from UK Govt to the Northern Ireland Assembly. How has it gone and what have we learnt?
The Belfast Good Friday Agreement has been a success in bring cross-community government and peace, but has it brought effective government? 🧵 1/

Hello, Bluesky!
We are Northern Ireland's independent public policy think tank, using evidence–based ideas to improve our society, economy, and public services.
We will be posting our thoughts, comments, and reports here, as well as on Twitter and LinkedIn. Follow us @pivotalppf.bsky.social

Economic inactivity in Northern Ireland - what is it, what do the data tell us, and how should policy respond?

Thanks to AgendaNi Magazine for the invitation to speak at yesterday's Northern Ireland Economic Conference - a great day with many interesting and engaging speakers.

Martin Wolf. This has to be right. Also explains well the difficulties of more EU as the UK's answer to Trump. Ducking and weaving I fear will be the order of the day, and ignoring those with simple but wrong solutions. www.ft.com/content/8bc1...

The Windsor Framework and the 2024 democratic consent process - UK in a changing Europe David Phinnemore unpacks the Northern Ireland Protocol/Windsor Framework democratic consent process and the potential implications.

The 'democratic consent process' for the Protocol/Windsor Framework was launched last week.

Some reflections on what's ahead via @ukandeu.bsky.social

ukandeu.ac.uk/the-windsor-...

Unionist views of Windsor Framework as breaching Good Friday Agreement do not have constitutional foundation Unionists have internalised a view that the Protocol/Windsor Framework contradicts the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, but that analysis does not have a logical foundation.

Unionist views of Windsor Framework as breaching Good Friday Agreement do not have constitutional foundation
@beltel.bsky.social

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/comm...