Stormont rule in balance as parties fail to make deal
Sinn Fein and DUP given more time to sort out their differences
Parties in Northern Ireland have a “short few weeks” to strike a deal to save powersharing at Stormont, Secretary of State James Brokenshire has said.
With a deadline for forming a new ruling executive following this month’s snap election having elapsed yesterday afternoon without agreement,theuk government now either has to call yet another poll or potentially reintroduce direct rule from Westminster.
Mr Brokenshire indicated he will delay taking action to allow the region’s political leaders some more time to resolve their differences.
Without an executive or agreed budget for the upcoming financial year, control of Stormont’s finances will be handed to a senior civil servant tomorrow, albeit subject to tight spending constraints.
Mr Brokenshire said that was “not sustainable”, making clear the final window for negotiations would not be allowed to drift.
“I think there are a short few weeks in order to resolve matters,” he said.
“The reason I say that is because of the stark issue in relation to public services here in Northern Ireland and the lack of a budget having been set, and therefore it is the impact on public services on having an extended period that is very much at the forefront of my mind in terms of the responsibilities that we have as the UK government to provide that assurance to the public here.”
The Democratic Unionist/ Sinn Fein administration collapsed in January amid a bitter row over a botched green energy scheme. The subsequent snap election campaign laid bare a range of other contentious issues dividing the parties.
The Secretary of State rejected criticism of the government’s handling of the talks to form a new executive and defended the fact Prime Minister Theresa May did not participate in the process. Under current legislation, the government is required to call another snap election if a deadline for forming an executive passes.
However, there is some room for manoeuvre, as there is no obligation to set a poll date immediately, rather within a “reasonable period”.
Meanwhile both the DUP and Sinn Fein blamed each other for the impasse.
DUP leader Arlene Foster earlier said she did not believe another election would solve anything.
“We wonder whether Sinn Fein were serious about reaching agreement at this time,” said the former first minister.
“The government of Northern Ireland is not a game, it is actually very serious and the fact we do not have an executive being formed today is very regrettable.”
Sinn Fein lader Michelle O’neill said: “we are standing firm – previous agreements need to be implemented,” she said. We came at the negotiations with the right attitude, wanting to make the institutions work, wanting to deliver for all citizens.”