government in westminster who recently stepped in to set a budget for northern ireland because there were no local ministers in power to do so. they say they want a fair pay rise in line with inflation, they want better conditions and these workers say that they are striking to protect the health service because they say one of the major problems is staffing shortages which is leading to northern ireland having the longest hospital waiting times in the uk. the argument of people here as if you do not pay workers well enough, frankly people do not choose to work on the health service, they choose to work elsewhere. let s talk about all the problems facing the health service now. thank you very much indeed for being with us. we are seeing an nhs facing such a
that, to have two experience some funding cuts, also the health service is in something of a crisis. northern ireland has the longest hospital waiting times in the uk and of course there are the economic issues, not least the rising cost of living. the fact that there are not local ministers to make decisions in belfast on these matters, well, many people in northern ireland would say that the public services are slowly decaying and that key reforms that really need to happen in northern ireland are not happening. ichris ireland are not happening. chris pace, ireland are not happening. chris page. our ireland are not happening. chris page, our ireland ireland are not happening. chris page, our ireland correspondent, thanks forjoining us. albania s ambassador to the united kingdom has demanded that britain must apologise for an anti migrant campaign against people from his country. mr cherko says ethnic albanian children are getting bullied in schools because of hostile media cover
but the dup remains the largest unionist group, so it still has a veto. power sharing here has always been fragile. devolution has only been fully operating for little more than two out of the last six years. one of the biggest consequences has been a delay to health service reforms. northern ireland has the longest hospital waiting times in the uk. stephen s daughter abigail has spent most of her life on various waiting lists. it s a lot of stress that the family don t need, because looking after abigail is stressful enough. but you have the added pressure then of chasing consultants, chasing waiting lists, trying to fight to get her onto a waiting list. it s just been living hell. and business leaders say repeated problems at stormont are putting off potential investors. we understand there are difficult political issues there, but for businesses,
the former prime minister of pakistan imran khan will begin his protest march in lahore later today. he will arrive in islamabad in seven days and has urged his supporters tojoin him there. tensions have been high in pakistan since mr khan was ousted from office in april after a no confidence vote. the current coalition government says elections will be held next year. with me now is political scientist sohail mahmood, a former lecturer of political science, associate dean and head of the department of international relations, preston university, islamabad. so good to have you on the programme, thank you so much. can you tell me, why exactly is imran khan doing this? what is he hoping to gain? he khan doing this? what is he hoping to rain? ., , khan doing this? what is he hoping to rain? ., ., ., . , ., to gain? he has announced several times that it to gain? he has announced several times that it is to gain? he has announced several times that it is no to gain? he has announced
nationalist party ever to win the most seats. but the dup remains the largest unionist group, so it still has a veto. power sharing here has always been fragile. devolution has only been fully operating for little more than two out of the last six years. one of the biggest consequences has been a delay to health service reforms. northern ireland has the longest hospital waiting times in the uk. stephen s daughter abigail has spent most of her life on various waiting lists. it s a lot of stress that the family don t need, because looking after abigail is stressful enough. but you have the added pressure then of chasing consultants, chasing waiting lists, trying to fight to get her onto a waiting list. it s just been living hell. and business leaders say repeated problems at stormont are putting off potential investors.