Calling of Stormont election would signal failure: Smith

THE Northern Ireland Secretary has warned that if a Stormont election is called in January it will “mark a failure for every politician” involved.

Westminster has imposed interim measures to ensure public services can continue here since Stormont collapsed more than 1,000 days ago.

However, the legislation is due to run out in the new year, and the Secretary of State is bound by duty to call an Assembly election.

Speaking at the British Irish Council in Dublin yesterday, at which no Northern Ireland representatives were present, Julian Smith said a Stormont election weeks after the General Election would leave Belfast without political direction.

“The 13th of January is the deadline, after that Northern Ireland will be without political direction,” Mr Smith said.

“This situation cannot continue, the people of Northern Ireland need political decision-making.

“We need both Arlene (Foster) and Michelle (O’Neill) and the other parties to get stuck in after the General Election has taken place.

“I want to focus on talks, I want to get Northern Ireland up and running.

“That’s what young and old people tell me day in and out, but it is inevitable that when the legislation comes to an end, there is a duty to call an election, which would mark a failure on every politician on Northern Ireland and that’s why I am calling on them to get back around the table.” When it was put to Mr Smith that the deadline may not be taken seriously, as Stormont has missed many deadlines before, he remained adamant that the stalemate could not continue.

He said: “The deadline of the 13th of January is a real deadline, the legislation that gives civil servants guidance on how to take political decisions comes to an end on that date, and then it’s the duty of the Secretary of State to call elections.

“That deadline means if we don’t get Stormont up and running again, Northern Ireland’s citizens will have General Election and Assembly elections called soon after.”

Mr Smith added he is confident the current impasse can be overcome. “What gives me confidence is, every single meeting with every single party shows me there are talented leaders, leaders that do want to get back into the Executive,” he said.

“What we need is the very small number of remaining issues to be negotiated or dealt with, and for people and leaders to take the leap in the interest of Northern Ireland citizens.”

A series of attempts to find a negotiated deal to restore the institutions has ended in failure.

Stormont imploded in January 2017 when the late Martin McGuinness quit as Deputy First Minister over the DUP’s handling of RHI.

The fallout was soon overtaken by disputes over the Irish language, the ban on same-sex marriage and the toxic legacy of the Troubles.