Health workers pay rise deadlock

The NIO has told the Nolan Show that David Sterling, the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, has the power to release £26 million of Stormont funds to health workers for a one percent increase in their wages. A statement to the Nolan Show says "As the Secretary of State made clear during the Budget Act, spending decisions remain devolved. In the continued absence of an Executive, those decisions fall to the Northern Ireland Civil Service." And in another move to get health workers their pay rise, the Nolan Show has been given exclusive access to a letter from the the unions, Unison and the Royal College of Nursing. It is addressed to David Sterling and also says Mr Sterling has the ability to release the £26 million. Stephen gets reaction from Ann Speed from Unison, UUP MLA Roy Beggs, SDLP MLA Mark Durkan, Alliance MLA Naomi Long and we took your calls.

Also on the programme, yesterday in the House of Commons Nigel Dodds, the DUP deputy leader accused North Down Independent MP Sylvia Hermon as favouring Dublin during a debate on Brexit. A claim which she rejected. Alliance MLA Naomi Long has hit out at the DUP accusing them of trying to bully an electoral target.

And, "All Out War" the story behind Brexit was hailed as the political book of last year. Its author Tim Shipman is the political editor of the Sunday Times. The follow up to "All Out War" has just been published. It's called "Fall Out - A Year Of Political Turmoil" and gives the inside story of Theresa May's triumphant arrival at No 10, her disastrous decision to call the general election and the rise of Jeremy Corbyn. Tim joined Stephen from our Millbank studios. You can buy "Fall Out : A Year Of Political Turmoil" by Tim Shipman now. It's published by Williams Collins.