Sinn Fein blame DUP over Ulster impasse

The UK and Irish governments must inject “leadership and energy” into last-ditch talks to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein has said.

Claiming the Democratic Unionists (DUP) were still standing in the way of a deal, Sinn Fein’s John O’Dowd told the governments to ramp up their involvement in the stalled negotiations.

An impasse over Republican demands for legislation to protect Irish language speakers is one of the main impasses. The DUP is willing to legislate, but only if Ulster Scots speakers are included in any act – a condition Sinn Fein has rejected.

The parties have until 4pm today to nominate ministers to a new coalition executive or they face the prospect of some version of direct rule be imposed from Westminster or yet another snap assembly election.

Emerging from the talks venue at Stormont Castle in Belfast, Mr O’Dowd questioned the merit of extending the deadline to facilitate further discussions.

“Timescale is not the issue,” he said.

“It is a willingness by the participants in the talks to resolve the outstanding issues.” Changes to the composition of parliament following the general election mean Theresa May is not guaranteed to get her vision of Brexit through the Commons, even with the support of Democratic Unionists, according to a report.

Research by communications firm Edelman has identified 78 Conservative MPs – almost a quarter of the entire parliamentary party – who might support a softer form of Brexit than set out by the prime minister in a speech in January.