One of Belfast city centre's last independent bookshops could close its doors for good at the end of October. Keats & Chapman has been part of North Street for almost 22 years, but now faces losing its premises as redevelopment plans move forward. The bookshop's owner is trying to find a new home, but finding affordable premises in the city centre isn't easy. And this is about more than one bookshop. Losing Keats & Chapman would be another blow to the independent businesses that give Belfast its character. Regeneration should make room for the places and people that make our city what it is. With the deadline approaching, Belfast City Council needs to use its influence to help find a solution that keeps Keats & Chapman in the city centre.

The Cliff Edge Coalition campaigns to strengthen social security, ensuring that people and families are protected from some of the harshest impacts of welfare reform. Too many households are barely staying afloat, as prices for food, energy, transport, rents and school costs continue to climb and climb. There are key interventions that Stormont can make to alleviate the stress and trauma of not having enough money to cover the essentials. Too many people continue to face financial hardship and there is more to be done to ensure our social security system provides the support people need. While important progress has been made, significant challenges remain. This is why the Cliff Edge Coalition calling on political parties to commit to: 1. Extend the mitigation of the benefit cap beyond 2028 2. Resolve the 5-week wait for Universal Credit 3. Implement a Carer's Recognition Payment and a Young Carer's Recognition Payment 4. Provide a support grant for private renters.

The Department of Health and Social Care in England has written to The Executive Office in Belfast requesting that it participate in the Medical Evacuation scheme and take 2 children from Gaza and their families into Northern Ireland for medical care. Any final decision by the Minister for Health may need approval of the cross-party Executive. The Irish News has reported that there was an attempt in the DUP to block a similar request last year. Allowing entry to these children is the very least Northern Ireland can do in the context of a continuing genocide in Gaza. Source: Irish News: https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/plan-to-bring-two-injured-gazan-children-to-northern-ireland-for-urgent-medical-treatment-may-be-blocked-at-stormont-JQ43EG246VH5RENFGRJLPQZJYY/

Dolly Parton was a country music superstar, but she was also a philanthropist with Irish/Ulster Scots roots. Since 2025 Belfast City Council has a partnership with the Dollywood Foundation to provide books to children in Belfast, in honour of her father who couldn't read.  She was steadfast in her support of marginalised groups, while retaining the affection of people across the political divide.   She could have joined the ranks of the billionaires, but instead gave away much of her fortune.  In a time where greed and division is rewarded, Dolly Parton's legacy stands alone. Belfast City Hall should be lit up in her memory.

This summer’s Fleadh brought Belfast to life. For eight days, the city was filled with music, dancing and people celebrating together. From the Shankill Road Defenders Flute Band to Celtic Roots to ArtsEkta , musicians from all traditions were represented and we all got a glimpse of what life here could be like The Fleadh is already returning in 2027, but 2028 would be particularly special. It will mark the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, and bringing the Fleadh back would give Belfast a joyful, shared celebration of how far our city has come.

Hundreds and thousands of us have been able to enjoy the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann - the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture - because of the pedestrianisation of Belfast City Centre. With no cars and more public space, it has created a safe and lively environment for all of us to soak up all the music and craic this week. What the Fleadh has proved is that pedestrianisation can work in Belfast City Centre and other places across the North. However, this is only temporary. When the Fleadh ends on Sunday, so will the temporary pedestrianisation of our streets. But that hasn’t stopped thousands of us asking the same question to friends and family: what if Belfast’s streets were like this all the time? We call on Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to pedestrianise more streets in Belfast and other places across the North.

Last week, the Belfast Telegraph reported that three PSNI officers charged with domestic violence offences in recent years quietly resigned from the force while under investigation for misconduct. This means they face no consequences for what they’ve done. That’s because there is a loophole where officers can resign or take early retirement to stop these investigations. But it doesn’t have to be this way. This loophole doesn’t exist in England and Wales - and Scotland is set to change the rules very soon. PSNI officers should not be able to stop investigations over their misconduct. We call on Justice Minister Naomi Long to close this loophole by adding amendments to her upcoming Justice Bill. 

Every time people call for better public services, we hear the same answer from Stormont: there’s no money. No money to cut waiting lists. No money to improve schools. No money to fix broken infrastructure. No money to properly invest in the services people rely on every day. Stormont may not control every tax lever, but it does have real power over rates and reliefs. That means it can make choices about who is asked to contribute more, and who gets protected. We call on Finance Minister John O'Dowd to implement the following measures:  1. Scrap the cap on rates for the most expensive homes 2. End the rates discount for big industrial companies 3. Make multinational companies pay more in rates 4. Windfall tax on major polluters and high-profit companies

The roads across Newry and surrounding local areas have reached an unacceptable state of neglect. Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians are forced to deal with severe potholes, failing road surfaces, and dangerous driving conditions on a daily basis. This isn't just an inconvenience—it’s costing local people real money in vehicle damage (blown tyres, damaged suspension, and broken alloys) during an already tight financial climate. More importantly, it creates major road safety hazards for families, commuters, delivery drivers, and emergency services trying to navigate our routes safely. Temporary, single-pothole patch jobs are crumbling within weeks, wasting public funds and leaving our communities with a deteriorating road network. By signing this petition, we can send a strong, united message to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) that Newry and surrounding areas deserve proper, long-term resurfacing and a transparent maintenance plan. Together, we can force real action and make our local roads safe again.

People need to come together, this affects us all. What about living next to a data centre with the loud noise pollution relentless, your property values plummets, you can’t ever sit in your peaceful garden again nor hear the sound of birds and the bees! Will you be happy with this? I certainly wouldn’t and if we don’t all stand and shout and say, no! It’s going to happen to you and everyone near you!!!

“Get that man out of here before he does himself any more damage.” That’s what Ian Paisley Jr said when he saw Jeffrey Donaldson try to kiss a female MLA without her consent in 2018. His response is telling - rather than confront this behaviour or support the victim, his priority was to protect the political careers of DUP members. This is just one of many stories about Donaldson’s behaviour that have come out since he was sentenced for child sex abuse crimes. And questions are mounting as to what the DUP knew about Jeffrey Donaldson, when they knew it, and whether their actions prioritised victims, or their own political interests. DUP leader Gavin Robinson has announced an independent review into its handling of information about Donaldson. But right now, it’s unclear how open that will be, and whether all the details will be revealed. This can’t be a whitewash. The DUP needs to know that people here are horrified and we won’t accept anything less than the full truth about who knew what, and full accountability for failures. We, the undersigned, demand that Gavin Robinson puts the interests of victims and survivors before party and faith. 

Jeffrey Donaldson has been convicted of rape, indecent assault, and gross indecency. We know that many of us have been reading the reports from the courtroom over the past few weeks, shocked and disgusted by his actions, and in awe of the bravery of the two women who took this case, against one of the most powerful men in Northern Ireland. Jeffrey Donaldson and other powerful men hide behind their status, and official titles like knighthoods as cover for their abuse.  We call on the UK Honours Forfeiture Committee to strip him of his title as soon as possible.