Sinn Fein ends power sharing, election likely

BRITAIN: Northern Ireland is facing its biggest crisis in a decade after the power-sharing government collapsed, bringing the prospect of elections within weeks and renewed rule from London.

The possibility of power transferring from Belfast to London would present a serious headache for British Prime Minister Theresa May, with the Northern Ireland border one of the most sensitive areas of Brexit.

Sinn Fein’s Martin Mcguinness resigned as Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister yesterday, saying he could no longer work with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in the powersharing government.

Arlene Foster, the DUP first minister, was criticised by Mcguinness for her role in a botched renewable energy scheme. He said she had a ‘‘clear conflict of interest’’ and her position was ‘‘not credible or tenable’’.

Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, the resignation of Mcguinness automatically removes Foster from office.

Elections must be held within six weeks if Sinn Fein does not nominate a successor. If fresh elections fail to break the deadlock, the assembly and Northern Ireland executive will be suspended and Westminster rule will be reimposed for the first time since 2007.

Relations between Sinn Fein and the DUP have been strained by details of the controversial Renewable Heat Incentive scheme, set up when Foster was in charge of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

It was designed to encourage businesses to switch from burning fossil fuels to wood biomass but paid out more than the fuel cost, meaning users could earn more if

"We now need an election to allow the people to make their own judgment." Martin Mcguinness

they burned more. It is estimated that the initiative could cost £400 million (NZ$692M) over 20 years.

Mcguinness said Foster had shown a ‘‘deep-seated arrogance’’ over the affair. He also accused the DUP of never fully embracing the Good Friday Agreement and of ‘‘crude and crass bigotry’’ towards Irish people.

‘‘We now need an election to allow the people to make their own judgment on these issues,’’ he said.

The Northern Ireland government is a participant in May’s Brexit negotiations. Her government is also close to the DUP, relying on its eight MPS to cushion its working majority of 14.

A disappointed Foster said: ‘‘It is clear Sinn Fein’s actions are not principled, they are political.’’

– The Times