Pro-UK party blocks N Ireland assembly

LONDON: The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politicians lived up to their threat and blocked a power-sharing government in the Northern Ireland Assembly when they abstained in a vote on the appointment of a speaker. Unless the DUP changes its mind, it could take up to six months before fresh elections would be held.

Sinn Fein won majority support in elections last week, and the right to choose the administration’s first minister.

Under the rules, the assembly and its executive cabinet cannot function unless a speaker, a first minister and a deputy first minister are all in place. |