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Brokenshire in Stormont talks failure warning Brokenshire in Stormont talks failure warning
(about 4 hours later)
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.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.
Mr Brokenshire would not go into detail about any alternatives he might be considering if the talks fail.Mr Brokenshire would not go into detail about any alternatives he might be considering if the talks fail.
He denied the Tory-DUP confidence and supply deal would make it impossible for the government to maintain their impartiality in Northern Ireland.He denied the Tory-DUP confidence and supply deal would make it impossible for the government to maintain their impartiality in Northern Ireland.
He said he was not part of those talks.He said he was not part of those talks.
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. Talks to restore Northern Ireland's devolved government are going down to the wire, with the parties having until 16:00 BST on Thursday to reach an agreement.
If a deal is not reached, Northern Ireland faces the prospect of a return of direct rule from London. If a deal is not reached by the deadline, which is set down in law, 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.
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.
Sinn Féin warned that the DUP had not moved on any of the main issues at the centre of the political crisis. Round-table talks involving the five party leaders were due to take place on Wednesday but the BBC understands the DUP and Sinn Féin did not show up.
Shortly after 17:00 BST on Wednesday, Sinn Féin's John O'Dowd said no compromise had been reached and he called on the British and Irish governments to intervene to help break the deadlock.
"With less than 24 hours to go in these talks, the DUP have not moved to resolve the issues which brought down the institutions in January," Mr O'Dowd said.
"Rights, equality and respect need to be resolved, they need to be implemented in legislation and we need to get to that position.
"There is now clearly an onus on the two governments to inject energy into these talks, to inject leadership into these talks and ensure that the outstanding issues are resolved in the timescale we have left to us."
With no breakthrough reached by Wednesday evening, it would be very difficult to meet Thursday's deadline, according to BBC NI political correspondent Enda McClafferty.
"It appears there has been little or no progress made on the key issue which is emerging - the Irish Language Act," he told the BBC's Even Extra programme.
Sinn Féin warned earlier that the DUP had not moved on any of the main issues at the centre of the political crisis.
The DUP encouraged Sinn Féin to "come back from the brink".The DUP encouraged Sinn Féin to "come back from the brink".
'Real Madrid star''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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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''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. The DUP has offered a hybrid model legislation which would cover both Irish language and Ulster Scots, according to BBC News NI political editor Mark Devenport.
In Belfast, meanwhile, there was little sign of progress being made. 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".
Sinn Féin chairman Declan Kearney said on Tuesday there must be a free-standing Irish Language Act for progress to be made. DUP negotiator Edwin Poots has urged Sinn Féin not to engage in "high-wire acts".
"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.
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].
"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".
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. Mr Poots added: "We can get (Stormont) up and running straight away and distribute the money our DUP have successfully received from the UK government".
"We can get it up and running straight away and distribute the money our DUP have successfully received from the UK government".
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.