The Democratic Unionist party became the biggest in Northern Ireland after elections for the Assembly there, which has been suspended for more than a year; ‘A democrat will not sit down with armed gangsters and murderers to negotiate the future of this country,’ said the Revd Ian Paisley, the leader of the DUP. The DUP has 30 seats, the Ulster Unionists 27; Sinn Fein with 24 overtook the Social Democratic and Labour party with 18. More than half the Labour party’s backbenchers at Westminster signed an early day motion questioning government plans to allow university top-up fees of ‘3,000 a year payable after graduation. A vote on the issue was delayed until the New Year, but Mr Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, said there would be ‘absolutely no retreat’. He added: ‘Of course my authority is on the line. It always is with these votes.’ Mr Blair was earlier examined by a doctor after experiencing stomach pains. Mr David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, needed ten stitches after walking into a metal staircase when his guide dog Sadie was absent; ‘Tony and I have both benefited from the NHS in recent months,’ he remarked. Norwich Union is to get rid of 2,350 jobs in Britain in favour of workers in India. There was a series of arrests in various places under the Terrorism Act. Fujian influenza, which struck Australia during their recent winter, was found to be spreading among British children. The Revd Joanna , curate of St Michael’s, Chester, was given leave in the High Court to challenge the refusal of West Mercia Police to prosecute doctors who carried out an abortion on a woman more than 24 weeks pregnant because she did not want a baby with a cleft palate. The Earl and Countess of Wessex finally decided to call their daughter Louise.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in