Newington's Anna Parker looks ahead to the next fortnight in Westminster and Northen Ireland, and the issues we can expect to dominate the political agenda.

Fallout from the by-elections in Stoke and Copeland

While by-elections are notoriously unreliable barometers of electoral mood, politicos will be watching Stoke-on-Trent Central and Copeland carefully on Thursday. While Stoke-on-Trent will be a close fought contest, the bookies are predicting that the Conservatives will claim Copeland from Labour, providing a vital opportunity for Theresa May to build up her slim majority in Parliament. By contrast, both constituencies will pressure-test the Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn’s policy positions in different ways: Stoke-on-Trent Central recorded the highest proportion of Leave voters in the country, while Copeland’s local economy is highly reliant on the nuclear energy industry, of which Corbyn is notoriously suspicious. A similar narrative is being played out for UKIP in Stoke-on-Trent Central: if the controversial UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall fails to take advantage of Labour’s internal division, it is likely that he will face a leadership challenge as the party attempts to re-position itself following the Brexit vote.

Rights of EU citizens dominate as Lords debate Article 50 legislation

As the Government’s European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill progresses through the House of Lords, the issues raised will shape the conversation about Brexit over the coming weeks. Whilst the Lords will not – as some particularly enthusiastic Remainers once hoped – overturn the legislation, they will pressure the Government on two issues: ensuring greater Parliamentary scrutiny of the Brexit process and securing the rights of European Union citizens resident in the UK. Yet, the Lords must be cautious: as Leavers continue their bid to secure full Parliamentary sovereignty, particularly vocal criticism of the referendum result may reignite the debate as to the purpose of the unelected chamber.

The DUP and Sinn Féin face the reality of reconstructing Northern Irish Executive

As Assembly Election day approaches in Northern Ireland, a campaign that has been hard-fought between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin draws to close. So far, the debate has been dominated by point-scoring on the investigation of the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme, and increasingly, each party’s position on Brexit. Reflecting this, the political rhetoric has been divisive:  Leader of the DUP Arlene Foster has warned that she will not make concessions that “feed” the Sinn Féin “crocodile”. However, with the DUP and Sinn Féin neck-and-neck in the polls, and the necessity of negotiating a power-sharing deal increasing apparent, the next fortnight will show whether the practical work of reconstructing the Executive following the election will change this partisan mood.