DUP scorns Sinn Fein call for May to intervene

The Democratic Unionists have ridiculed a Sinn Fein call for the Prime Minister and Taoiseach to intervene in Stormont’s crisis talks, insisting the republicans “don’t need anyone to hold their hands”.

DUP negotiator Edwin Poots was responding to Sinn Fein’s demand that Theresa May and Leo Varadkar engage as a “matter of urgency” to inject the “step-change” needed to secure an agreement.

No 10 said Mrs May had been in touch with the parties during the process, but Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire was the UK government’s representative in the talks.

After further negotiations at Stormont Castle yesterday – the day after Thursday’s deadline for agreement came and went – Mr Poots said: “I think Sinn Fein can do the business very quickly.

“They know what’s required of them – they don’t need anybody to hold their hands.”

He added: “They just need to sit upstairs, make the decisions that need to be made, and come and tell us of those decisions so we can get on with the business.”

Accusing the DUP of refusing to budge on central issues, Sinn Fein negotiator John O’dowd earlier urged the two governments to press Northern Ireland’s main unionist party to give ground.