Parties have ‘few short weeks’ to strike Stormont agreement

n ireland: Brokenshire gives political leaders more time to resolve their differences

Parties in Northern Ireland have a “short few weeks” to strike a deal to save power-sharing at Stormont, Secretary of State James Brokenshire has said.

With a deadline for forming a new ruling executive following this month’s snap election having elapsed yesterday without agreement, the UK Government now either has to call yet another poll or potentially reintroduce direct rule from Westminster.

Mr Brokenshire indicated he will delay taking action to allow the region’s political leaders some more time to resolve their differences.

Without an executive or agreed budget for the upcoming financial year, control of Stormont’s finances will be handed to a senior civil servant tomorrow, albeit subject to tight spending constraints.

Mr Brokenshire said that was “not sustainable”, making clear the final window for negotiations would not be allowed to drift.

“I think there are a short few weeks in order to resolve matters,” he said.

“The reason I say that is because of the stark issue in relation to public services here in Northern Ireland and the lack of a budget having been set, and therefore it is the impact on public services on having an extended period that is very much at the forefront of my mind in terms of the responsibilities that we have as the UK Government to provide that assurance to the public here.”

The Democratic Unionist/Sinn Fein administration collapsed in January amid a bitter row over a botched green energy scheme.

Pictures: PA. Left: DUP leader Arlene Foster and deputy leader Nigel Dodds, and right, Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams and Michelle O’Neill speak to the media at Stormont in Belfast.