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Stormont power-sharing talks going down to the wire Brokenshire in Stormont talks failure warning
(about 4 hours later)
Talks to restore Northern Ireland's devolved government are going down to the wire, with just one full day left for parties to reach an agreement. There will be serious implications if the Stormont parties cannot agree a deal on restoring devolution by Thursday's deadline, Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire has said.
Discussions have been taking place to bring back power-sharing at Stormont before Thursday afternoon's deadline. Mr Brokenshire would not go into detail about any alternatives he might be considering if the talks fail.
On Tuesday, Sinn Féin warned that the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) had not moved on any of the main issues at the centre of the political crisis. He denied the Tory-DUP confidence and supply deal would make it impossible for the government to maintain their impartiality in Northern Ireland.
The DUP encouraged Sinn Féin to "come back from the brink". He said he was not part of those talks.
The parties called time on negotiations shortly after 22:30 BST, with plans to resume on Wednesday morning. Talks to restore Northern Ireland's devolved government are going down to the wire, with the parties having until 16:00 BST to reach an agreement.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State James Brokenshire said there had been "intensive engagement" but warned that time for a deal was running short, stressing that the deadline was set down in law. If a deal is not reached, Northern Ireland faces the prospect of a return of direct rule from London.
The parties have until 16:00 BST on Thursday to restore the executive or Northern Ireland faces the prospect of a return of direct rule from London. Mr Brokenshire said there had been "intensive engagement" in talks that continued until 22:30 on Tuesday, but stressed Thursday's deadline was set down in law.
Mr Brokenshire is heading to London on Wednesday for Northern Ireland Questions and the vote on the Queen's Speech, which sets out the government's legislative programme for the next two years.
'High-wire acts'
The negotiations involve the five main Northern Ireland parties and the UK and Irish governments, although a deal is dependent on whether the two biggest parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin, can resolve their differences.The negotiations involve the five main Northern Ireland parties and the UK and Irish governments, although a deal is dependent on whether the two biggest parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin, can resolve their differences.
These include republican demands for a stand-alone Irish Language Act and rights for the LGBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) community.These include republican demands for a stand-alone Irish Language Act and rights for the LGBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) community.
BBC News NI political correspondent Gareth Gordon said there was little sign of a deal being close on Tuesday, with "rancour replacing whatever hope existed". Sinn Féin warned that the DUP had not moved on any of the main issues at the centre of the political crisis.
Sinn Féin chairman Declan Kearney said there must be a free-standing Irish Language Act for progress to be made. The DUP encouraged Sinn Féin to "come back from the brink".
'Real Madrid star'
Speaking at Northern Ireland Questions in Westminster, Mr Brokenshire said he would not be on a liaison committee being set up by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the Conservatives.
Under the "confidence and supply" arrangement, the DUP guarantees that its 10 MPs will vote with the government on the Queen's Speech, the Budget, and legislation relating to Brexit and national security - while Northern Ireland will receive an extra £1bn over the next two years.
While rival Stormont parties have largely welcomed the additional funding, concerns have been raised that the deal could undermine the peace process and devolution negotiations, with the UK government dependent on the support of the DUP.
The Scottish National Party said the DUP was holding a "sword of Damocles" over the government's head.
SNP MP Alison Thewliss joked that the £1bn deal meant each DUP MP was now worth more than the Real Madrid footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
The new Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Smith said there was a danger that trust in the perception of the government's impartiality would be eroded.
He called on the government to publish the minutes of any meetings of the new liaison committee.
DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said his party's focus would be on ensuring the extra cash for infrastructure projects in Northern Ireland is spent equally and fairly.
The party's new South Belfast MP, Emma Little-Pengelly, challenged Sinn Féin to stop blocking the implementation of the military covenant across Northern Ireland.
'High-wire acts'
Mr Brokenshire headed to London on Wednesday for Northern Ireland Questions and the vote on the Queen's Speech, which sets out the government's legislative programme for the next two years.
In Belfast, meanwhile, there was little sign of progress being made.
Sinn Féin chairman Declan Kearney said on Tuesday there must be a free-standing Irish Language Act for progress to be made.
"The DUP have not moved on any of the substantive issues which sit at the heart of this crisis," he said. "They haven't moved on any of the fundamental rights and equality issues that require to be embraced.""The DUP have not moved on any of the substantive issues which sit at the heart of this crisis," he said. "They haven't moved on any of the fundamental rights and equality issues that require to be embraced."
The DUP have offered a hybrid model legislation which would cover both Irish language and Ulster Scots, according to BBC News NI political editor Mark Devenport.The DUP have offered a hybrid model legislation which would cover both Irish language and Ulster Scots, according to BBC News NI political editor Mark Devenport.
On Tuesday, former first minister and ex-DUP leader Peter Robinson said it was "pitiful and absurd that republicans would collapse the democratic institutions to advance their cultural agenda".On Tuesday, former first minister and ex-DUP leader Peter Robinson said it was "pitiful and absurd that republicans would collapse the democratic institutions to advance their cultural agenda".
On a Facebook post, Mr Robinson added: "It seems that Sinn Féin do not just want the language to be recognised and supported, but require that it is isolated from any other cultural provisions and given supremacy in a free standing ILA [Irish Language Act].On a Facebook post, Mr Robinson added: "It seems that Sinn Féin do not just want the language to be recognised and supported, but require that it is isolated from any other cultural provisions and given supremacy in a free standing ILA [Irish Language Act].
"It would be churlish to let a deal collapse by demanding a stand-alone bill as if one culture had pre-eminence and should not be given legal recognition alongside the cultural expression of others.""It would be churlish to let a deal collapse by demanding a stand-alone bill as if one culture had pre-eminence and should not be given legal recognition alongside the cultural expression of others."
DUP negotiator Edwin Poots urged Sinn Féin not to engage in "high-wire acts".DUP negotiator Edwin Poots urged Sinn Féin not to engage in "high-wire acts".
He suggested a "parallel process" could be initiated where an executive is formed while talks on the outstanding issues continued.He suggested a "parallel process" could be initiated where an executive is formed while talks on the outstanding issues continued.
Mr Poots added: "I can't say they are easy but nonetheless we want to get Stormont up and running. We can get it up and running straight away and distribute the money our DUP have successfully received from the UK government". Mr Poots added: "I can't say they are easy but nonetheless we want to get Stormont up and running.
Westminster deal "We can get it up and running straight away and distribute the money our DUP have successfully received from the UK government".
He was referring to the £1bn the DUP negotiated for Northern Ireland as part of an agreement to prop up Theresa May's minority government.
Under the "supply and confidence" arrangement, the DUP guarantees that its 10 MPs will vote with the government on the Queen's Speech, the Budget, and legislation relating to Brexit and national security.
While rival Stormont parties have largely welcomed the additional funding, concerns have been raised that the deal could undermine the peace process and devolution negotiations, with the UK government dependent on the support of the DUP.
Northern Ireland has effectively been without a devolved government for almost six months.Northern Ireland has effectively been without a devolved government for almost six months.
Its institutions collapsed amid a bitter row between the DUP and Sinn Féin about a botched green energy scheme.Its institutions collapsed amid a bitter row between the DUP and Sinn Féin about a botched green energy scheme.
The late deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, stood down in protest over the DUP's handling of an investigation into the scandal, in a move that triggered a snap election in March.The late deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, stood down in protest over the DUP's handling of an investigation into the scandal, in a move that triggered a snap election in March.