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Breaking news and hard-hitting talk - Stephen Nolan gets you talking about the big stories of the day.

Breaking news and hard-hitting talk - Stephen Nolan gets you talking about the big stories of the day. Call Stephen on 03030 80 55 55 (standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles will apply), text 81771 or email nolan@bbc.co.uk.

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The Nolan Show: NI Civil Service Head David Sterling questions lack of engagement between Belfast and London regarding Brexit in leaked letter

sterling

26/04/2018

NI Civil Service Head David Sterling questions lack of engagement between Belfast and London regarding Brexit in leaked letter

BBC Radio Ulster - The Nolan Show, NI Civil Service Head David Sterling questions lack of engagement between Belfast and London regarding Brexit in leaked letter

Plus, a grammar school gets rid of head boy and girl in favour of gender neutral roles.

In a dramatic intervention, the head of the civil service here, David Sterling, has warned the government that it's plans for the border post Brexit fail to solve most of the problems. In a private letter to Downing Street, Mr Sterling also appears to criticise a lack of engagement between officials in London and their counterparts in Belfast. He then lists seven areas in which he says Whitehall has not been taking advantage of local knowledge. These include trade and  north-south co-operation. So what is going on? Are the plans of the government and their partners, the DUP, fatally flawed or is this a civil servant acting above his station?

Also, a "horlicks". That's how one belfast city councillor has described new road markings in belfast city centre. Jim rodgers says he's received several complaints after one of the city's busiest commuter areas, oxford street, was modified at the weekend. The story is covered in today's belfast telegraph.

Plus, by now you should all have received your rates bills with most seeing a rise. 
But do you know where exactly your money is going and do you think that you are getting value from them?
Eric is a small business owner and has contacted the show about his rates and he is not happy......

And more than 32,000 emergency food supplies were distributed in Northern Ireland last year of which 13,000 were for children according to figures released from the Trussell Trust charity. The charity said 45% of referrals here were because people on low incomes or benefits were unable to make ends meet.

Plus, A Grammar school in Guernsey has scrapped the traditional positions of Head boy and Head girl to replace them more gender neutral terms. The student body is now led by a Chair, Vice Chairperson and a student voice leadership team.

Head teacher Liz Coffey, said she sees the change as more inclusive as it does away with male and female stereotypes, the idea of gender specific jobs and hopefully it will prepare children for the workplace
This year two boys took the roles of chair and vice chairperson of the board with three girls sitting on the team.

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NI Civil Service Head David Sterling questions lack of engagement between Belfast and London regarding Brexit in leaked letter

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