THE longstanding Irish policy of neutrality, an ongoing balancing act of several competing pressures — nationalism, the post-colonial relation with Britain, a burgeoning involvement with European politics — came under particular scrutiny in 1983.

AT SOME point in her 11-year rule, Margaret Thatcher adopted the royal prerogative of referring to herself in the plural — as when she announced the birth of a child to her son Mark in 1989.

The head of the British Government's aviation review promised today to lay the ground for the next government to get off to a "flying start" with airport expansion after the 2015 general election.

“I GOT a good belt of that olive branch, didn’t I?” Fergus O’Dowd joked as Enda Kenny unveiled his attempt at post-heave healing.

GORDON BROWN’S crown as leader of the British Labour Party may be crumpled and tarnished but it is still highly coveted.

TONY BLAIR has agreed this week to move British forces closer to trouble spots near Baghdad so that George W Bush would not have to commit more US troops to Iraq in the closing days of his re-election campaign.

British aerospace group BAE Systems today downplayed claims that it was in talks to take a 40 per cent stake in helicopter maker AgustaWestland.

Engineering group GKN today signalled the end of British ownership in the helicopter industry by saying it may sell its stake in AgustaWestland.

Britain is missing out on £12bn (€16bn) in trade each year because of its decision not to join the euro, according to a report published by single currency campaigners Britain in Europe today.