‘Return of UK direct rule if no resolution’
Brokenshire urges SF and DUP to keep talking
THE British government would be willing to consider the reintroduction of direct rule in the North if extended talks to restore power-sharing fail, it has warned.
Northern Secretary James Brokenshire said the intensity of negotiations must increase in the days and weeks ahead after a statutory deadline to form a new Stormont executive passed on Monday without agreement.
Addressing MPs in Westminster, he said if there was a successful resolution he would move legislation to enable an administration to be formed without the need for another snap election.
But, if talks fail, he made it clear the British government would consider direct rule.
He said: ‘In the absence of devolved government, it is ultimately for the United Kingdom government to provide for political stability and good governance.
‘We do not want to see a return to direct rule. As our manifesto at the last election stated, “Local policies and local services should be determined by locally elected politicians through locally accountable institutions.” But should the talks fail in their objectives, the government will have to consider all options.’
The DUP/Sinn Féin administration collapsed in January amid a bitter row over a botched green-energy scheme. The subsequent snap-election campaign laid bare other contentious issues dividing the parties.
Under current legislation, the British government is required to call another snap election if a deadline for forming an executive passes.
Mr Brokenshire said he would seek to amend that law to avoid a new election if a deal can be forged in the time ahead.
Without a ruling executive or agreed budget for the upcoming financial year, control of Stormont’s finances is to be handed to a senior civil servant today, albeit subject to tight spending constraints.
Mr Brokenshire reiterated his view that the situation was ‘not sustainable’ in the long term.
He said he had spoken to the main political leaders and the Irish Government since Monday and had detected a ‘strong willingness’ to continue engaging in dialogue with a view to resolving the outstanding issues.
‘But the window of opportunity is short,’ he stressed. ‘It is essential therefore that the intensity of discussions is stepped up – with renewed intent and focus.
‘To that end I will continue over coming days to work closely with the Northern Ireland parties and the Irish Government as appropriate. I will need to keep the situation under review. But if these talks are successful, it would be my intention quickly to bring forward legislation after the Easter recess to allow an executive to be formed, avoiding a second Assembly election, for which I detect little public appetite.’
Talks to form an executive in the wake of this month’s election collapsed on Sunday amid recriminations between the DUP and Sinn Féin, with both parties blaming each other.
Proposed legislation to protect Irish-language speakers and new mechanisms to deal with the legacy of the Troubles remain logjams in the way of an agreement.
‘Little appetite for another election’