Deadline extended at Stormont after failure to agree power-sharing deal

The UK government has announced negotiations to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland will be allowed to extend until Monday, despite Stormont parties missing a statutory deadline to reach agreement.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said the passing of yesterday’s 4pm deadline “does not mean the efforts to restore the executive are ending”.

“We are now allowing the parties space to continue the discussions,” she said.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire will make a statement to the House of Commons on Monday outlining the government’s intentions. In the absence of agreement, the options open to Mr Brokenshire include setting another deadline for the talks process, calling a second snap 0 James Brokenshire could reimpose direct rule Assembly election or reimposing some form of direct rule from London.

If a deal was found over the weekend, the government could pass legislation to retrospectively change Thursday’s missed deadline, enabling a new executive to be formed without another election.

The DUP and Sinn Fein, the two parties whose agreement is required to form a new administration, have accused each other of refusing to give ground on key issues.

Despite a pessimistic mood at Stormont, the Downing Street spokeswoman insisted “very good progress” had been made in the talks. She said: “We believe a resolution can be found and we are urging the parties to continue focusing their efforts on achieving it.”

A crucial sticking point appears to be Sinn Fein’s demand for an Irish Language Act, which would give official protections for Gaelic speakers. The DUP is willing to legislate on the language issue, but only if Ulster Scots speakers are included in any Act, a condition Sinn Fein has rejected.

The deadline to nominate ministers to a coalition executive passed with both parties still blaming each other for the impasse. It was the fourth deadline since the institutions collapsed earlier this year.