Stormont Watch

Site update: The site has been given a UI overhaul. Information is now easier to read, and the presentation has been improved across the board. The smaller party alignment section has been extended. Feedback suggested the percentages alone did not provide sufficient context. A new feature on the Stats/Voting page now lists every division in which any smaller party shared majority alignment with Sinn Féin or the DUP. The individual votes behind each figure are therefore visible directly. A dark and light mode toggle has been added, so the site can be viewed in whichever presentation the reader prefers. I have tried to test as thoroughly as possible, but if you find any issues please do let me know. As always, thank you for your continued support! stormontwatch.com

@AlexKane221b At a time when we desperately needed a Walden, we got a Bartleby the scrivener.

The Assembly’s only success is it continues, after almost 30 years, to stumble along without any public or electoral expectation of it making a button of difference for the better to our lives or everyday circumstances. The political equivalent of a Poe story about the undead.

@RhonddaBryant x.com/Stormont_watch…

Pleased to meet with the Executive parties and the official opposition today to discuss a wide range of issues. Our priority remains maintaining stability and promoting growth. My full statement is below.

Stormont officials will have legal powers to spend up to 95% of last year's funding from Saturday, as a deadline passes without an Executive budget. bbc.in/4w4zWG7

@mgtruth @JonBurrowsMLA Hi Ruth, The stats page “Smaller parties voting alignment” feature at stormontwatch.com/assembly/stats… has now been updated to allow users to expand on each smaller party see a view/link of every vote that aligned with both SF/DUP.

@JonBurrowsMLA I asked the question last week of Stormont Watch & in replies to you they’ve recognised & are looking at context. It’s important to know what the vote was for. For eg, Paul Frews still births & baby loss act. Apolitical & a good bill. How many fall into that category?

In a democracy people can vote for whatever party they wish and parties can vote how they wish in legislative chambers. However, the public are entitled to know how the parties they give a mandate to use it. It’s time for change in our politics here. (Source Stormont Watch).

Féile an Phobail says it stands up for those who are marginalised. Féile an Phobail withdrew a Women's Rights Network NI event from its programme. The Women's Rights Network statement offered engagement. Féile's statement offered insinuation about the agenda of many of those who involved themselves, and a promise that they will never succeed. Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey applauded the latter. x.com/DeirdreHargey/…

Statement:

POLL/POBALBHREITH - NI Assembly SF: 22% (-2) UUP: 16% (+3) DUP: 15% (-3) SDLP: 13% (+2) TUV: 12% (+1) AP: 10% (-1) GP: 5% AON: 3% PBP: 2% INDs & Others: 2% +/- vs. April/Aibreán 2026 Via @LucidTalk/@BelTel D: July/Iúil 2026 S: - #Ireland #NorthernIreland #Poll

@Titter_of_wit @JonBurrowsMLA stormontwatch.com/assembly/stats…

@JonBurrowsMLA Where's the figure for DUP?

Every smaller party’s alignment with both Sinn Féin and the DUP, UUP included: 24.9% with SF, 56.6% with the DUP. There’s also a dedicated SF-DUP agreement figure. stormontwatch.com/assembly/stats… If you would like to see what was actually voted on, division by division, with every MLA’s individual vote: stormontwatch.com/assembly/votes

It’s a summary stat across 249 divisions, not a replacement for the underlying detail. Each division has its own page: full motion text, every MLA’s vote. Example: stormontwatch.com/assembly/divis… Full list, all 249 divisions this mandate: stormontwatch.com/assembly/votes A filtered view for exactly this kind of comparison is a fair idea and one I’m looking at.

@JonBurrowsMLA Agreement with Sinn Féin on what exactly? What were the issues they "agreed" on? Without context those figures mean absolutely nothing Jon.

@ColumRitchie @JonBurrowsMLA Smaller party alignment with SF & DUP For each of the 249 divisions since May 2022, each party's majority position is whichever of Aye, No, Abstain, or No Show was recorded by the most of its MLAs. Both current and former mandate MLAs are included. stormontwatch.com/assembly/stats…

@JonBurrowsMLA Can you give an equip on how the patties voted in agreement with the DUP etc

The people’s festival, funded by the people, inclusive of all people, is extremely disappointed at how quickly the people it excluded went to court.

“Every day this Executive delays agreeing a budget is another day that health trusts are left trying to manage a deepening financial crisis while waiting lists continue to grow.”

A car containing an "extremely significant" bomb has been intercepted in the Republic of Ireland as it was being driven across the border for an attack in Northern Ireland, Gardaí have said. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Féile an Phobail, August 2019: “The Féile are not in the business of censoring.” (BBC)

Sinn Féin and the DUP have voted the same way 46 times out of 249 divisions since May 2022. 18.5%. stormontwatch.com/assembly/stats…

@MartinG1492 Thank you Martin, very kind!

@Stormont_watch People need to remember not to shoot the messenger. Also, that headline writers & hacks have an agenda & think critically before they post. I criticised the client journalism in the Newsletter this week. I would never have criticised your work. You're doing a good service!

A note on Stormont Watch, after a busy day. I built this on my own time because I wanted a clearer way to see how Stormont actually works. Every division, every bill, every MLA’s expenses and attendance, pulled from the public record and laid out so anyone can check it. No statistic on the site is chosen to flatter or embarrass any party. The same method is applied to all of them, and some results will sit uncomfortably with different people at different times. That’s not a flaw. That’s what an honest record looks like. I’ve put real effort into getting this right, and I’ll keep putting in more. If you find an error, show me and I’ll fix it. That’s the deal: I don’t ask anyone to trust the conclusions, only to check the record, because it’s all sourced and open. Northern Ireland can be a difficult place politically. It’s also Scrabo at sunset and Killynether in July, which is where Pippin and I were this week. Thanks to all for the support so far.

@felicityhuston Thank you Felicity, really appreciate it. Killynether’s a great spot, hope your two enjoy it as much as Pippin does!

@Stormont_watch Thank you for the work you're doing. I'm glad youre getting recognition for it and hope it remains positive . I'll keep any eye out for Pippin when im next in Killynether with my 2 dogs.