now on bbc news, it s time for political thinking with nick robinson. welcome to political thinking, a conversation with rather than interrogation of someone his political thinking helps to shape ours. once again, london and brussels are at loggerheads. once again, the row between the uk and the eu is about the status of northern ireland. once again, politics in belfast is deadlocked, with unionists refusing to share power with sinn fein. my guess is someone whose life and career is based on a refusal to take sides in the political battle. it is a decision that has paid dividends for naomi long, who leads the alliance party, which won a record number of seats in the recent elections. brought up in one of the most fiercely loyalist parts of east belfast, she insisted that politics should not be defined by whether you want northern ireland to stay in the uk or instead to be united with the rest of ireland. but does she and her party really represent anything more than simply no
James brokenshire, the secretary of state, has gone along with this discrimination against the former forces and pa ramilitaries, discrimination against the former forces and paramilitaries, as they see it. The dup may be asking about the threat to british vet and that serve her. One last point, enda kenny, the outgoing taoiseach, expressed the opinion that they should not damage the prospect of getting the Power Sharing back on task. We have had several secretaries of state for Northern Ireland echoing that point. Arlene foster has just said she wants to get Power Sharing back up and running. Is there a serious effort . Or does this deal undermined the prospects . It depends on how you read it but i would see it as sinn fein being the main obstacle is coming back. Ithink fein being the main obstacle is coming back. I think there is considerable spec Natalie Mcvey scepticism. As as for the nationalist possession is westminster, sinn fein did well but refused to take their seats. Enda k
On the bbc news at five. And in the victims and Grenfell Tower disaster have taken place. Theresa may apologised for the official response, saying it wasnt good enough. The duke of edinburgh has been admitted to hospital but is said to be in good spirits. And parts of the uk are basking in the hottestjune day since 1976 with a temperature of 33. 9c recorded at heathrow. Good afternoon from westminster. Our main story at 5pm. New measures to prepare britain for brexit have dominated the governments legislative the governments legislative priorities set out in the queens speech. Of the 27 bills that were announced by her majesty, eight were linked to brexit. There were also announcements on terror and security legislation and Domestic Violence, but there was little mention of the more controversial elements of the conservatives manifesto, such as grammar schools. So what was in it . The main focus was brexit and the great repeal bill, with the government saying it wants to build the wide
definitive northern island was ready for change. yes, 71 .12%. cheering ready for change. yes, 71 .12%. cheering and ready for change. yes, 71 .12%. cheering and applause. - ready for change. yes, 71 .12%. cheering and applause. but j ready for change. yes, 71 .12%. - cheering and applause. but the ath has cheering and applause. but the path has been cheering and applause. but the path has been far cheering and applause. but the path has been far from cheering and applause. but the path has been far from smooth. i path has been far from smooth. the anniversary was officially marked last week at stormont by the devolved executive and assembly aren t sitting, the democratic unionist party refusing to go to government over arrangements. the prime minister looking forward to you sooner pay tribute to those who signed the agreement saying we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions accepted compromise and show leadership. he said the comments made in 1998 was one of econom
pa ramilitaries continue, there was paramilitaries continue, there was some trouble at an annual republican parade on easter monday last year, police have warned of the risk of more serious violence this year. very strong intelligence coming forward in terms of events in derry and londonderry and concern there may be attempts to draw police into serious public disorder and use that as a platform to launch terrorist attacks on police, going into the operation that is something clearly right at the forefront of my mind in the minds of the commanders and officers as well. , ., , ., well. after 25 years of relative well. after 25 years of relative peace - well. after 25 years of relative peace the - well. after 25 years of i relative peace the focus well. after 25 years of - relative peace the focus is on a deal that started a work in progress, with the us covenant having played a key role in the good friday agreement talks, a visit to belfast tomorrow by presidentjoe biden will mark t