Ben Lowry: At just the wrong time, amid chronic British weakness, the NIO loses one of its key advisors

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4 Aug, 2019 Ben Lowry: At just the wrong time, amid chronic British weakness, the NIO loses one of its key advisors Last week this column returned to a long-standing theme of these pages: entrenched Northern Ireland Office (NIO) ministerial weakness that is no match for the partisan Irish ministers (see link to that column below). Latest News Ben Lowry: Cyprus gang rape case is reminder that fake claims can happen and the need for jurors to be aware of that possibility Last week in Cyprus a gang rape, which made global headlines, was then said not to have happened. Have a referendum in Northern Ireland on the backstop five years from now A simple solution to the backstop problem would be to change the Withdrawal Agreement to allow for a referendum in five years time for the people of Northern Ireland to vote specifically if they want to keep the backstop or not. We at the FTA have campaigned for the dualling of the A6 road and welcome Monday's opening of a new stretch As the organisation representing the UK's logistics sector, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) campaigned for the dualling of the A6 road for several years. At just the wrong time, NIO loses one of its key advisors Last week this column returned to a long-standing theme of these pages: entrenched Northern Ireland Office (NIO) ministerial weakness that is no match for the partisan Irish ministers. Sport Update Jamie Hamilton finally has cage removed from injured leg four years after Isle of Man TT crash Ballyclare's Jamie Hamilton has told of his relief after finally having the cage removed from his right leg four years after a life-threatening crash at the Isle of Man TT. Derek Sheils closes in on Irish Superbike title at Munster 100 Practice at Saturday's Munster 100 Road Races in County Cork was untimed due to rain at the Glanmire course. John Quigg steps down as Institute manager Institute have begun the search of their second manager in a matter of months after John Quigg stepped down from his role this morning. And finally... Elderly man dies after being hit by car A 70-year-old man has died after a stolen car hit pedestrians outside Belfast City Cemetery, the PSNI has confirmed. See all the day's news here

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