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Stormont elections: Westminster laws set to cause further delay | Stormont elections: Westminster laws set to cause further delay |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is to bring forward legislation on Thursday to further extend its legal power to delay the requirement to hold a fresh assembly election. | The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is to bring forward legislation on Thursday to further extend its legal power to delay the requirement to hold a fresh assembly election. |
The provision, contained in an act which became law last November, was due to expire in March. | The provision, contained in an act which became law last November, was due to expire in March. |
But the law gave NI Secretary Karen Bradley the ability to order a one-off extension, which ends on 25 August. | But the law gave NI Secretary Karen Bradley the ability to order a one-off extension, which ends on 25 August. |
The bill will be brought before the Commons later. | The bill will be brought before the Commons later. |
Northern Ireland has been without a devolved power-sharing government for more than two and a half years, after the DUP and Sinn Féin split in a bitter row. | |
The late Martin McGuiness resigned as Northern Ireland's deputy first minister in January 2017 in protest at the handling of a botched green energy scheme, which officials now say could cost taxpayers up to £700m, though that figure is disputed. | |
There have already been several failed talks processes. | |
On Wednesday afternoon, Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy stated at a press conference that, in his party's view, the current talks have "effectively been stalled" to facilitate the Twelfth of July marching season. | |
Orange Order Twelfth of July parades take place across Northern Ireland to make the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne. | |
MPs will debate the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) early next week. | MPs will debate the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) early next week. |
A cross-party group of MPs has said it plans to table an amendment to the bill seeking to legalise same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. | A cross-party group of MPs has said it plans to table an amendment to the bill seeking to legalise same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. |
On Wednesday, Labour's Conor McGinn - who has previously put forward similar amendments - told MPs he planned to do so again and called on the Northern Ireland secretary to support it. | On Wednesday, Labour's Conor McGinn - who has previously put forward similar amendments - told MPs he planned to do so again and called on the Northern Ireland secretary to support it. |
Mrs Bradley reiterated she is in favour of same-sex marriage being legal in Northern Ireland and that if the matter came before Parliament, the government would allow MPs a free vote. | Mrs Bradley reiterated she is in favour of same-sex marriage being legal in Northern Ireland and that if the matter came before Parliament, the government would allow MPs a free vote. |
Take action | Take action |
It is not clear by how long the NIO plans to suspend the date that would require Mrs Bradley to call a fresh Stormont election by, but sources have suggested it could be pushed back until October. | It is not clear by how long the NIO plans to suspend the date that would require Mrs Bradley to call a fresh Stormont election by, but sources have suggested it could be pushed back until October. |
The NIO has so far declined to comment. | The NIO has so far declined to comment. |
Parliament is due to rise for recess on 25 July, a day after the new prime minister is in place. | Parliament is due to rise for recess on 25 July, a day after the new prime minister is in place. |
It had been thought the NIO would need to take action of a further delay before recess, in case a deal to restore Stormont was not in place by the time the current legislation expires next month. | It had been thought the NIO would need to take action of a further delay before recess, in case a deal to restore Stormont was not in place by the time the current legislation expires next month. |
When Mrs Bradley first extended the legislation in March, she told MPs she did not want to do so - but that it would give the Stormont parties "more space" to try and reach a deal to end more than two years of political deadlock. | When Mrs Bradley first extended the legislation in March, she told MPs she did not want to do so - but that it would give the Stormont parties "more space" to try and reach a deal to end more than two years of political deadlock. |
In May, the British and Irish governments convened a fresh talks process, after the murder of journalist Lyra McKee - but it is now in its ninth week and it is thought the parties are not nearing an agreement. | In May, the British and Irish governments convened a fresh talks process, after the murder of journalist Lyra McKee - but it is now in its ninth week and it is thought the parties are not nearing an agreement. |