The UK Government's plan for the coming years has been laid out by the British Queen - including the commitment to an EU membership referendum in the next two years.

The power-sharing administration in Belfast is facing a major crisis after a vital Assembly debate on implementing welfare reforms began without a last minute political deal.

The Stormont House Agreement will fall if Sinn Féin pulls out of a deal on welfare reform, Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson has said.

Around 20,000 jobs are to be slashed from the North’s public sector following a political deal to safeguard powersharing.