NI takes major step out of lockdown as hospitality and retail outlets reopen

Dear reader

It was wonderful to see retail and hospitality in Northern Ireland reopening on Friday after four long months of lockdown.
Not surprisingly there were long queues outside certain stores across the Province, with Primark particularly popular amongst shoppers.
It was similar for hospitality, with businesses allowed to reopen outdoors. There were long lines of mostly young people queuing outside hospitality venues across Belfast on Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, an emotional Arlene Foster was in front of the cameras and confirmed that she will be standing down as an MLA for Fermanagh South Tyrone.
The outgoing first minister also confirmed that she had not spoken to those in her party who signed the letter calling for a leadership election in the DUP.
Of course we know now that Edwin Poots, agriculture minister, was the first person to declare for the leadership.
I hope you enjoy the May Bank Holiday weekend, with doors of retail and hospitality open once again.

Alistair Bushe

Editor

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