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Stormont elections: Westminster laws set to cause further delay Stormont deadlock: Plan to fast-track NI bill 'blocking progress'
(about 4 hours 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. A Labour MP has criticised the government's plan to fast-track a bill through Westminster to delay the requirement to hold a fresh Stormont election.
The provision, contained in an act which became law last November, was due to expire in March. Conor McGinn warned the government not to "underestimate the level of dissatisfaction" at the move.
It seeks to extend the government's legal power to push back the obligation to call another election to 20 October.
The Northern Ireland Office described it as a "sensible contingency plan".
The provision, originally 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 Northern Ireland Office (NIO) now wants the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Bill to be brought through all stages of the Commons on Monday.
The legislation was briefly presented in the Commons on Thursday.
If approved by Parliament, it would extend the date for calling another assembly election to 21 October 2019, with a provisional further extension to 13 January 2020.
It also gives civil servants greater clarity around decision-making for Northern Ireland, in the absence of devolved government.
Mrs Bradley described it as a "contingency plan", given that Parliament is due to rise for summer recess on 25 July.
In a statement, she said: "This bill is necessary to ensure good governance and the continuation of public services in the event that the parties cannot come to an agreement before 25 August. We should all encourage the parties to ensure it is not needed by restoring the executive in the coming weeks."
'Do the right thing'
A cross-party group of MPs has said it plans to table an amendment to the bill, which seeks to legalise same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.
But given the short timescale for the bill to be scrutinised and pass through the Commons, Mr McGinn, who is originally from County Armagh, said it was a "pretty transparent and poor attempt to stifle scrutiny and block any progress" on issues like same-sex marriage and abortion laws.
Speaking in the Commons, he urged the government to "do the right thing" and allow more time for scrutiny of the bill.
Speaker John Bercow said there were ways in which MPs could still potentially table amendments to be accepted ahead of the debate next week, telling Mr McGinn: "There is help at hand."
The Irish government, which is currently involved in co-chairing talks to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland, said it noted the move by the British government, adding that it "underlines the seriousness of the absence of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland".
Talks lull
Stormont's political parties have been engaged in a talks process for more than nine weeks now, although they are not nearing an agreement.
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.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.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.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. On Wednesday, 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 - but the DUP rejected that and accused Sinn Féin of a lack of engagement.
Orange Order Twelfth of July parades take place across Northern Ireland to make the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.