Northern Ireland deal can still be reached

There is still time to save the Northern Ireland powersharing deal, James Brokenshire has said.

The Northern Ireland Secretary said differences between Sinn Fein and the DUP were small, focusing on Irish language rights, culture, identity and respect.

The DUP and Sinn Fein failed to meet a Monday deadline f or a deal, with Storm on tin limbo since January and at risk of having direct rule imposed.

Mr Brokenshire told MPS that Northern Ireland will run out of money in the coming weeks, with a new executive highly unlikely to be in place in time to pass a budget by the end of November.

He said he was planning a budget, but would not make the spending decisions, and would honour a £ 1 billion deal struck for the DUP’S support.