Writing for Belfast Live, Professor Stephen Farry explains the implications of Stormont having no agreed budget

Setting a budget is the most fundamental duty of any government. We are now over a month into the current financial year, and we continue to await Executive agreement on a budget.

It remains unclear if and when Northern Ireland will see a budget, and further if that budget will be multi-year or single-year. The legal backstop measure of the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Finance authorising expenditure at 95 per cent of last year’s allocations has already been put in place.

The backdrop to this budget impasse is deep financial crisis. Public services in NI are not sustainable under their current guise and configuration, bearing considerable opportunity costs.

The pattern of recurring overspends over the past four financial years, which have been addressed by short-term interventions, such as better than expected Barnett Consequentials or the reserve claim from Treasury, are testament to this situation. Further overspends are already projected for the current financial year.

Indeed, there is a danger that not agreeing a budget becomes a politically easier outcome than the difficult decisions and compromises in reaching formal agreement on allocations over one or more years.

Continued delay or even failure to agree entails negative consequences for Departments, alongside Arms-Length Bodies and the community and voluntary sectors, which deliver crucial services for government.

The outcome of the multi-year UK Spending Review has been in place since June 2025. This provides the Executive with the opportunity to put in place NI’s first multi-year budget since the 2011-2014 period. Prior opportunities for such a multi-year budget were hampered by the absence of working institutions.

There is, of course, a process for the Department of Finance to undertake with the NI Departments to shape local draft proposals. Further, the relatively late UK Budget last autumn, with the potential to alter allocations on the margins, created further uncertainty.

However, both Scotland and Wales did announce their budgets for 2026-2027 in January this year. In one respect, it is easier for NI to introduce and sustain a multi-year budget, notwithstanding the missed opportunities in the recent past. Whilst Scotland and Wales are engaged in elections with uncertainty as to the make-up of the incoming administrations, given our particular system of government, there is a considerable consistency of parties in power.

For reference, in early 2011, the outgoing Executive agreed the 2011-2014 multi-year budget even though all of those relevant financial years would fall into the subsequent mandate.

Whilst a multi-year budget doesn’t in itself place more resources on the table, it would allow a more strategic approach to spending, enable renewed investment and reform, address market failures, and safeguard future outcomes.

However, merely agreement of a multi-year budget that is just a set of numbers does not in itself equate to a strategic outcome. That comes from a clear focus upon transformation and alignment of resources in line with a Programme for Government.

Further, it is worth noting that there is an ongoing misalignment between the timing of opportunities for multi-year budgets and the agreement of Programmes for Government.

This could be improved if the Executive returned to an outcomes-based framework and put in place a rolling and evolving programme, which on paper could be much easier to maintain given the consistency of parties in power.

Yet the delay regarding agreement on any budget brings many immediate challenges. When Departments and Arms Length Bodies cannot adequately plan ahead, this brings uncertainty on workforce plans and service delivery, and even entails some staff being placed on protective notice in the community and voluntary sector.

Where savings and efficiencies do need to be made by Departments to remain within budget allocations, it is challenging enough to make and implement those measures over a 12- month horizon, never mind a reduced 11-month window or less.

Without agreement on a budget or agreement on a budget where it is commonly recognised that the budget would be broken by significant overspends by many departments, NI would limp to the next Assembly Election with greater chaos and distance from a strategic approach that is ultimately required for financial sustainability and better outcomes.

The hope may be for a further Treasury response. Notwithstanding the moral hazard, this is unlikely in the current UK fiscal context. This begs the question as to what the UK Government would do in response to overspends and the scale of negative impact from this short-termism.

Stephen Farry is a Professor of Strategic Policy in Practice at Ulster University.

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“Pudsey has stood alongside children for over 40 years, and now, for the first time ever, he’s finding his voice. Pudsey is finding his voice because too many children feel they can’t share what they’re going through, and too many adults aren’t sure how to start that conversation.

The Switch 2 may now be being sold at a loss, as Nintendo insists that the upcoming price hike doesn’t completely compensate for the rising cost of manufacturing.

There are always several mysteries revolving around Nintendo at any given time but the most perplexing at the moment is why they haven’t had a first party Nintendo Direct, to lay out all the games coming out for the rest of the year.

Sony and Xbox have both had their equivalents and usually Nintendo has an event in January or February. But despite six separate Directs so far, all of them have been minor affairs and no major new games have been announced so far this year.

One could go mad speculating as to why, but the most important question is whether this is all according to plan, from Nintendo’s point of view, or if they view it as a mistake. We don’t know the answer to that, but they have now promised to do better in the future.

We still don’t know how what the new UK price of the Switch 2 will be, when it comes into effect in September – because Nintendo has only announced it for Japan, the US, and Europe – but it’s likely to be roughly a £30 increase, to around £430.

Nintendo is following in the footsteps of Sony and Microsoft, who have both increased the cost of their consoles multiple times, with everyone being at the mercy of the current memory crisis, where RAM chips are being bought up in bulk to power AI data centres.

The Switch 2 is already unusually expensive for a Nintendo console, and it seem clear the company is not happy at having its hand forced in this way. In fact, president Shuntaro Furukawa has issued an open apology to fans:

‘We sincerely apologise to our customers for the considerable inconvenience and trouble this will cause. While we wanted to prioritise a wide adoption, it was challenging to bear the rising costs over a long period. The [new] pricing does not fully account for all cost increases.’

That last sentence implies that Nintendo is still making less money on the console than they were, even with the price increase, and they may now even be selling it at a loss. The comment could also hint at more price increases to come, which is what happened with Sony and Microsoft as well.

Furukawa didn’t offer any detail on the Switch 2’s upcoming line-up, or a future Nintendo Direct, but he did say the following:

‘We will prepare a robust software lineup to enhance the Switch 2 ownership value. We will work diligently to overcome this barrier.’

Although you can never tell with Nintendo – especially considering the Star Fox annoucement last week came out of nowhere, with just 10 minutes warning – it’s now very likely they won’t have a major Direct until their usual not-E3 time slot of mid-June.

We’d normally say there’s no way of knowing what they’ll announce but unusually there have been quite a few Nintendo rumours lately, including Star Fox. The most believable at the moment is of a Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake, which many reliable sources claim will be out this year.

Nintendo hates leaks, and often changes their plans as much as possible to prove them wrong (the Star Fox rumour originally claimed a slightly earlier reveal), but they have to announce something for this Christmas and Zelda: Ocarina Of Time would certainly be welcomed by many.

Furukawa may have been purposefully vague in his comments but he’s clearly hinting at multiple games, and currently the only major first party titles confirmed for this year are Star Fox, Splatoon Raiders, and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave. There’s also The Duskbloods, but that’s by FromSoftware and, slightly worryingly, hasn’t been seen since last year.

In terms of other rumours, leaker malo932, who is relatively unknown but the first to correctly predict the new Star Fox game, has corroborated existing rumours of not only Ocarina Of Time, but also a new Wii Sports related title.

He also claims there’s another, non-remake, Star Fox coming next year, alongside a 3D Mario game. Finally, he suggests a Super Metroid remake is relatively imminent and that a new Wario Land is in development, possibly for release in 2027.

There’s no guarantee that all of that will be shown this summer, even if it is all true, but if Ocarina Of Time is being positioned as the big Christmas game you would expected to see that.

After all, the first thing any company, in gaming and beyond, turns to in a tight spot is nostalgia and on that account it doesn’t get much bigger for Nintendo than the N64’s first, groundbreaking The Legend Of Zelda entry.

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The crash saw a Peugeot, a Mercedes and a BMW collide at the junction of Elgin Street and Wordsworth Street.

The Peugeot was flipped on its roof, and images show substantial damage to the Mercedes and BMW as well.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

Paramedics were on scene, as well as police officers.

Greater Manchester Police warned drivers via a post on social media that the road had been closed while they dealt with the incident.

Crash in Halliwell (Image: PHIL TAYLOR)

The force also warned people to find alternative routes.

The road was closed for several hours, and recovery trucks attended the scene to clear the scene.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

Images from the scene showed debris from the car bodies as well as items from the Peugeot strewn across the road.

The Bolton News contacted Greater Manchester Polices for comment.

North West Ambulance Service was also contacted for comment.

Joe Cole has included Chelsea star Cole Palmer in the England team he believes can ‘win the World Cup’.

The Three Lions underwhelmed in the final international break before heading to the World Cup this summer, drawing 1-1 with Uruguay and then losing 1-0 to Japan.

Despite those poor results, Thomas Tuchel’s side are still one of the favourites going into the tournament, having reached back-to-back European Championship finals under previous boss Sir Gareth Southgate.

England also went deep in two World Cups under Southgate, losing in the semi-finals in 2018 and the quarter-finals in Qatar four years later.

Cole believes the Three Lions can end their 60-year wait for a World Cup trophy this summer but only if Tuchel, who took charge last year, picks the right team.

Ex-Chelsea manager Tuchel has selection dilemmas in a number of positions, including at centre-back, central midfield and on both wings, with the preliminary squad needing to be submitted by May 11 and the final 26-man squad by May 30.

Cole thinks he has the solution to one of England’s selection debates, however, insisting Palmer should start on the right-wing ahead of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.

Saka has been England’s first-choice in that position for several years but has endured a poor season for Arsenal by his standards, although his form has picked up somewhat in recent weeks.

While Cole has backed Palmer to start for England at the World Cup, he also wants Tuchel to put faith in Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon on the other flank.

Cole believes Tuchel should overlook Saka but says his Arsenal teammate Declan Rice could be the most important member of England’s squad.

‘Right, this is my England team for the World Cup,’ Cole, who earned 56 international caps, said on The Dressing Room podcast.

‘I’m going Jordan Pickford in goal. Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones – I would have liked him to have played more games of football this season but you need experience at the World Cup and he’s massively experienced.

‘You always have that fear of him breaking down but maybe it will work because he’s fresh, knows what he’s doing and brings experience.

‘At left-back I do like Lewis Hall but I’m going with Nico O’Reilly because he gives that penetration going forward.

‘Declan Rice starts in midfield and I’m going to go Elliot Anderson next to him. I would have Declan a bit deeper than where he plays for Arsenal – there’s a big push for him to play further forward but we’ve got so much already going forward.

‘I would tell Declan that he’s the most crucial player on the pitch and he needs to marshal that midfield. If England are going to win the World Cup we’re going to have to be really good off the ball.

‘I would have Jude Bellingham as the No. 10 but if he isn’t performing, you can quite easily make a change there.

‘I would have Cole Palmer coming in from the right like he’s been doing at Chelsea, releasing him up, and almost playing two number tens. A midfield of Rice, Anderson, Bellingham, Palmer has power, ability and goals.

‘On the left I would start with Anthony Gordon over Marcus Rashford because he scores goals, he’s a warrior and he presses really well and has legs to run in behind and that will help Harry Kane if he’s dropping off sometimes.

‘I think with that team we can control possession and win the World Cup.’

England were drawn in Group L for this summer’s World Cup and kick-start their campaign against Croatia on June 17.

Group games against Ghana and Panama follow as Tuchel’s side look to advance to the knockout stages and ultimately win the World Cup for the first time since 1966.

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The new flats could be built near a Cambridgeshire train station

A building could be demolished to make way for over 20 new flats in a Cambridgeshire village. GCR Camprop Fifteen Ltd has proposed to knock down a building at 29 Station Road in Shepreth to make way for 25 new flats.

If approved, the flats will be a mix of studio and one-bedded flats. The building which could be demolished is two storeys high and is used as an employment space.

The site is also close to Shepreth Railway station, and has easy access to Cambridge and Royston via the A10. On the flats design, the applicant said the designs are “appropriate”.

They added: “It represents an enhancement on the existing building. It would address Station Road in a positive manner.”

There are several mature trees to the front of the building, as well as mature hedging. The applicant said this will keep the flats “well-shielded and enclosed”.

The proposals are not believed to have any detrimental effect on local highways, and there is no risk of the site flooding. The applicant has also recently submitted plans to build 32 flats at the same site.

However, instead of demolishing a building, it is for a change of use of an office building to make way for the flats. If approved, these flats will also be a mix of studios and one-bedded flats.

In that application, the flats were described to be a “highly suitable location”, with the site being so close to a railway station.

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