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Brendan Hughes

@brendanhughes64.bsky.social

Journalist, currently Political Reporter for BBC News Northern Ireland

1,404 Followers  |  160 Following  |  341 Posts  |  Joined: 16.11.2024  |  1.715

Latest posts by brendanhughes64.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Nigel Farage's Reform a threat to the union - NI Conservatives Paul Leeman questioned Reform's commitment to Northern Ireland following remarks by Nigel Farage over the summer.

Nigel Farage's Reform UK party could be a "threat to the union" between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the chair of the NI Conservatives has warned.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #CPC25

08.10.2025 06:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Irish language: Naomi Long says politicians are playing out 'culture war' The justice minister made the remarks after the incoming Irish language commissioner accused the executive office of

Politicians playing out 'culture war' over Irish language, says Alliance leader Naomi Long

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

06.10.2025 14:58 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Newry: Pipe bomb left at Sinn Fรฉin office of Liz Kimmins and Dรกire Hughes Sinn Fรฉin says it was found outside the constituency offices of Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and Dรกire Hughes MP.

Explosive device left at Sinn Fรฉin office in Newry

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

06.10.2025 08:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Gordon Lyons to launch new strategy aims to get more people with disabilities into work Gordon Lyons will set out his plans for a new Disability and Work Strategy in a statement on Monday.

Minister to launch new employment strategy for people with disabilities

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

06.10.2025 06:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Jim Gavin: Danger for Irish prime minister as presidential election candidate quits The Fianna Fรกil party is in turmoil after its presidential candidate Jim Gavin rules himself out.

'Fianna Fรกil is now in turmoil. Party TDs are aghast the issue with the renter was not discovered during the vetting process.'

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

06.10.2025 06:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Jim Gavin withdraws from the Irish presidential election contest.

Full statement from Fianna Fรกil ๐Ÿ‘‡

05.10.2025 21:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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SDLP's Claire Hanna to say executive allergic to responsibility Claire Hanna is addressing the SDLP annual conference, her second since becoming party leader last year.

Stormont executive 'allergic to responsibility', SDLP leader Claire Hanna is to tell her party's annual conference

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

04.10.2025 07:32 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Belfast bus lane times to be extended and roadworks paused The changes follow complaints of traffic congestion last year.

Several Belfast bus lanes are to have their operating hours extended as part of efforts to improve traffic flow before Christmas.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

04.10.2025 07:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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NI power supply was 'at risk of failure', MLAs told The permanent secretary of the Department for the Economy says the issue was

Northern Ireland's electricity supply was "very close" to a "risk of a single point of failure", a Stormont committee has been told.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

03.10.2025 06:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Kemi Badenoch mistakenly says NI voted in favour of Brexit In a BBC NI interview, the Tory leader said the

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has mistakenly said Northern Ireland "voted to leave" the European Union as she defended her party's record on Brexit.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

02.10.2025 16:37 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Tribeca, Belfast: 'Viable plan' being explored for stalled project The ยฃ500m regeneration scheme has become increasingly derelict as the company which owns the site has made little progress on plans.

Stormont's communities minister says he's exploring options for a "deliverable alternative" to the stalled Tribeca project in Belfast city centre.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

01.10.2025 06:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Digital ID cards a 'ludicrous proposition' says Sinn Fรฉin leader Mary Lou McDonald was speaking at the Labour party conference in Liverpool.

Digital ID cards a 'ludicrous proposition' says Sinn Fรฉin leader

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

29.09.2025 06:33 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Belfast: Council spends ยฃ20,000 on security after portrait vandalism The cost is on top of the almost ยฃ2,500 spent on repairs to the painting, which were carried out by a professional conservator.

Belfast City Council spent ยฃ20,000 on new security measures in response to a portrait of a former lord mayor being vandalised.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

26.09.2025 06:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Three candidates to contest Irish presidential election The successful candidate will replace the outgoing president Michael D Higgins.

Three candidates to contest Irish presidential election

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

24.09.2025 11:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Police in Northern Ireland used journalists' phone data to detect staff leaks - report There were 21 unlawful uses of covert powers to try to uncover reporters' sources between 2011 and 2024.

Police used journalists' phone data to detect leaks by staff, report says

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

24.09.2025 11:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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PSNI to publish review into journalists' phone surveillance It is likely to criticise how the police used reporters' phone numbers to check for information leaks.

PSNI to publish review into journalists' phone surveillance

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

24.09.2025 06:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Stormont: MLAs clash over definition of a Troubles victim Sinn Fรฉin and Alliance oppose the use of the term

MLAs clash over the definition of Troubles victim

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

23.09.2025 13:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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RHI: Plans to close 'cash-for-ash' scheme and compensate participants The Economy Minister outlines plans to compensate participants and shut down the scheme.

RHI: Fresh plans to close 'cash for ash' scheme announced

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

22.09.2025 12:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Sinn Fรฉin backs independent Catherine Connolly for Irish president Party president Mary Lou McDonald made the announcement on social media ahead of a much anticipated press conference in Dublin.

Sinn Fรฉin backs independent TD Catherine Connolly for Irish president

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

20.09.2025 12:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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DUP conference: Gavin Robinson says opponents prosper with divided unionism Gavin Robinson will acknowledge the NI Assembly is

'Opponents prosper' with divided unionism, DUP leader Gavin Robinson will tell his party's annual conference

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

20.09.2025 07:15 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Troubles: Ireland commits to co-operate with reformed UK legacy body A new framework seeks to heal a rift between the UK and Irish governments created by the Legacy Act.

Ireland commits to co-operate with new Troubles legacy body, under new framework set to be unveiled by the UK and Irish governments

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

19.09.2025 06:33 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Hill Street: Pedestrianisation to happen later this year The infrastructure minister says an informal consultation with businesses

Long-delayed plans to pedestrianise Hill Street in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter will proceed later this year, Stormont's infrastructure minister has said.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

18.09.2025 16:00 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Legacy Act: UK and Irish governments set to publish framework It is understood the details will be unveiled at a joint news conference on Friday

UK and Irish governments to publish Troubles legacy framework

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

18.09.2025 08:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Edwin Poots: I fear 'things could turn ugly' in Great Britain The DUP assembly member was speaking after chairing a meeting aimed at addressing abuse directed towards politicians.

Stormont assembly speaker Edwin Poots says he fears the current political climate in Great Britain "could turn ugly" and lead to someone getting hurt.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

18.09.2025 06:33 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Emma Little-Pengelly says Michelle O'Neill's boycott of Trump visit 'is a mistake' Only one of NI's leaders will attend a state banquet for the US president in London.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill is making a "mistake" by boycotting a state banquet for US President Donald Trump, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has said.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

16.09.2025 16:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Mark McEwan: Stormont watchdog quits after one week in post Mark McEwan annouces he is joining Surrey Constabulary as deputy chief constable.

The Northern Ireland Assembly's new standards commissioner has stepped down a week after being appointed.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

16.09.2025 16:09 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Paul Givan: Education minister labels AI speech accusation a 'cheap shot' Givan rejects claims made by the leader of the opposition at Stormont that he delivered a speech written by AI.

Education Minister Paul Givan has clashed with Stormont's opposition over claims AI was used to write an assembly speech.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

16.09.2025 12:42 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Belfast's new maternity hospital: Staff 'not fully engaging' with review The new hospital at the Royal Victoria site has cost ยฃ97m so far and is already a decade behind schedule.

Some Belfast Trust staff are "not fully engaging" with a review into the city's long-delayed maternity hospital, Stormont's health minister has said.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

16.09.2025 06:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Joanne Bunting is to replace Pam Cameron as Junior Minister in the Stormont executive, the DUP has confirmed.

Peter Martin will chair the Infrastructure committee while Deborah Erskine is on maternity leave, and Paul Frew will succeed Ms Bunting as Justice committee chair.

15.09.2025 14:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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MI5 'illegally monitored' phone of former BBC journalist Vincent Kearney The Investigatory Powers Tribunal has heard that MI5 conceded unlawfully obtaining communications data twice.

MI5 has admitted that it illegally obtained communications data from the mobile phone of former BBC Northern Ireland home affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

15.09.2025 12:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@brendanhughes64 is following 19 prominent accounts