Martin McGuinness resigns as NI deputy first minister

Media captionWatch Martin McGuinness" resignation statement in full Martin McGuinness has said he is resigning as Northern Ireland"s deputy first minister in protest against the handling of a botched energy scheme that could cost taxpayers £490m.
The Sinn Féin MLA"s resignation will take effect from 17:00 GMT.
He cited the Democratic Unionist Party"s (DUP) conduct over the scandal surrounding the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme as the reason.
His decision to quit is likely to lead to a snap election.
Live coverage: McGuinness quits Profile: A decade as deputy first minister Q&A: What is the RHI scheme? Timeline: Botched heating scheme scandal BBC News NI reports on the RHI scheme He said First Minister Arlene Foster has a “clear conflict of interest” in the RHI scandal and her position is “not credible or tenable”.
“Today is the right time to call a halt to the DUP"s arrogance.”
Image copyright PA Image caption Arlene Foster has repeatedly refused to r..

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Deputy First Minister McGuinness to resign

Image copyright PA Martin McGuinness has said he will resign as Northern Ireland"s deputy first minister in protest against the handling of a botched heating scheme.
The Sinn Féin MLA"s resignation will take effect from 17:00 GMT.
He cited the Democratic Unionist Party"s (DUP) conduct over the scandal surrounding the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme as the reason.
He said First Minister Arlene Foster has a “clear conflict of interest” in the scandal.
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Keith Brown believes it is “untenable” to maintain silence on the issue.
He was speaking six months on from June"s referendum which saw UK voters back leaving the European Union.
In response to Mr Brown"s call, a UK government spokeswoman said the United Kingdom would “continue to be a global leader of free trade”.
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Italian interior minister Marco Minniti said during a news conference in Rome that the man kille..

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RHI scandal: McGuinness calls on NI first minister to step aside

Stormont"s deputy first minister has called on Arlene Foster to “stand aside” as first minister while the "cash-for-ash" scandal is investigated.
Mrs Foster set up the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme in 2012 but an overspend could cost taxpayers £400m.
Martin McGuinness said he was concerned that “credibility of the political institutions is being undermined”.
But Mrs Foster replied that she would not be stepping aside and “does not take her instructions from Sinn Féin”.
BBC News NI reports on "cash for ash" scandal Q&A: What is the RHI scheme? Timeline: Renewable Heating Scheme scandal How does RHI £400m overspend add up? The statement from Mr McGuinness follows similar calls for her to step aside by the Ulster Unionist Party and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).
Mrs Foster became leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) a year ago this week and has been first minister of Northern Ireland since January.
She was responsible for introdu..

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Former Conservative minister Lord Prior dies

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Council leaders have warned a social care crisis is “happening right now”.
The government says local authorities will have £3.5bn more to spend on social care by 2020.
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In some cases, patients are fit to leave hospitals but continue to occupy beds because of problems arranging social care.
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Theresa May wants post-Brexit UK at "cutting-edge"

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Britain sleepwalking into care crisis, Ros Altmann warns

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Lady Altmann was pensions minister in David Cameron"s government Britain is in danger of “sleepwalking into a social care crisis”, a former pensions minister has warned.
Ros Altmann called on the government to use tax breaks to help people save for care in later life, as she said the cost of funding provision was pushing the NHS in England to breaking point.
She said she warned other ministers of looming problems last year.
The Department of Health said it was significantly raising the funds local authorities have access to for care.
Lady Altmann, who was pensions minister under David Cameron, said the chancellor should use Wednesday"s Autumn Statement to offer incentives to help families “recognise the need” to prepare for care costs.
"Eldercare vouchers"”This should have been done years ago, but successive governments have failed to offer any help,” she said.
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Ros Altmann called on the government to use tax breaks to help people save for care in later life, as she said the cost of funding provision was pushing the NHS in England to breaking point.
She said she warned other ministers of looming problems last year.
The Department of Health said it was significantly raising the funds local authorities have access to for care.
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"Eldercare vouchers"”This should have been done years ago, but successive governments have failed to offer any help,” she said.
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