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Boris Johnson urges NI parties to 'seal power-sharing deal' Boris Johnson urges NI parties to 'seal power-sharing deal'
(about 1 hour later)
Boris Johnson has urged political parties in Northern Ireland to step up their efforts to restore power-sharing, during talks in Belfast.Boris Johnson has urged political parties in Northern Ireland to step up their efforts to restore power-sharing, during talks in Belfast.
The PM held a series of meetings with the five main Stormont parties, in which Brexit was also discussed.The PM held a series of meetings with the five main Stormont parties, in which Brexit was also discussed.
On Tuesday night, Mr Johnson held a private meeting with senior DUP figures.On Tuesday night, Mr Johnson held a private meeting with senior DUP figures.
He relies on the party for support in key votes in Parliament.He relies on the party for support in key votes in Parliament.
The prime minister left Northern Ireland on Wednesday afternoon and a Downing Street spokesperson said Mr Johnson told the parties while there had been constructive progress in the talks at Stormont, "there now needed to be serious and intense engagement to get this done".The prime minister left Northern Ireland on Wednesday afternoon and a Downing Street spokesperson said Mr Johnson told the parties while there had been constructive progress in the talks at Stormont, "there now needed to be serious and intense engagement to get this done".
The spokesperson added that Mr Johnson had told the parties the UK would be leaving the EU on 31 October "come what way" and his intention was to do so with a deal. The spokesperson added that Mr Johnson had told the parties the UK would be leaving the EU on 31 October "come what may" and his intention was to do so with a deal.
In all scenarios, the government was committed to the Good Friday Agreement and in no circumstances would there be physical checks or infrastructure on the border, they said.In all scenarios, the government was committed to the Good Friday Agreement and in no circumstances would there be physical checks or infrastructure on the border, they said.
Border pollBorder poll
Following her meeting with Mr Johnson, DUP leader Arlene Foster said "talk of a border poll" was not something Boris Johnson was "entertaining".Following her meeting with Mr Johnson, DUP leader Arlene Foster said "talk of a border poll" was not something Boris Johnson was "entertaining".
She met the prime minister along with DUP MPs Nigel Dodds, Emma Little-Pengelly and Gavin Robinson.She met the prime minister along with DUP MPs Nigel Dodds, Emma Little-Pengelly and Gavin Robinson.
Sinn Féin said if a no-deal Brexit happens, the government must call a referendum on Irish unity "immediately".Sinn Féin said if a no-deal Brexit happens, the government must call a referendum on Irish unity "immediately".
But Mrs Foster said the Conservative government would "never be neutral on the union".But Mrs Foster said the Conservative government would "never be neutral on the union".
She said discussions regarding the confidence and supply pact the two parties share was for "another day" but defended the £1bn in spending for NI the DUP had secured in the past.She said discussions regarding the confidence and supply pact the two parties share was for "another day" but defended the £1bn in spending for NI the DUP had secured in the past.
The issue over what will happen at the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after Brexit - and the proposed Irish backstop - has caused deep divisions between the parties at Stormont.The issue over what will happen at the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after Brexit - and the proposed Irish backstop - has caused deep divisions between the parties at Stormont.
The backstop is the insurance policy negotiated as part of the UK-EU withdrawal agreement, which aims to keep the border as seamless as it is now and avoid land border checks.The backstop is the insurance policy negotiated as part of the UK-EU withdrawal agreement, which aims to keep the border as seamless as it is now and avoid land border checks.
But Mr Johnson has referred to it as a "monstrosity".But Mr Johnson has referred to it as a "monstrosity".
'DUP's gopher''DUP's gopher'
Mr Johnson met Sinn Féin first on Wednesday before talks with the smaller parties and further discussions with the DUP.Mr Johnson met Sinn Féin first on Wednesday before talks with the smaller parties and further discussions with the DUP.
After the meeting, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said she told the prime minister he must not be "the DUP's gopher".After the meeting, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said she told the prime minister he must not be "the DUP's gopher".
Ms McDonald said she did not believe the PM's claim he would act with "total impartiality" towards all parties in NI.Ms McDonald said she did not believe the PM's claim he would act with "total impartiality" towards all parties in NI.
"It's not our business who dines with whom, but the politics of this is the DUP have used this to ensure... the continuing denial of rights and trample on the views of the majority of people who live here," added Mrs McDonald."It's not our business who dines with whom, but the politics of this is the DUP have used this to ensure... the continuing denial of rights and trample on the views of the majority of people who live here," added Mrs McDonald.
As the talks were taking place, a number of protestors gathered outside, including a group of Harland and Wolff shipyard workers who are lobbying the government to renationalise their workplace.As the talks were taking place, a number of protestors gathered outside, including a group of Harland and Wolff shipyard workers who are lobbying the government to renationalise their workplace.
The Belfast firm's Norwegian parent company Dolphin Drilling is having serious financial problems and put Harland and Wolff up for sale late last year.The Belfast firm's Norwegian parent company Dolphin Drilling is having serious financial problems and put Harland and Wolff up for sale late last year.
They were joined at Stormont by Irish language campaigners, anti-Brexit protestors and the families of those killed in Ballymurphy in 1971 with others calling for government action on legacy issues.They were joined at Stormont by Irish language campaigners, anti-Brexit protestors and the families of those killed in Ballymurphy in 1971 with others calling for government action on legacy issues.
Stormont talksStormont talks
Northern Ireland has not been ruled directly from Westminster for more than a decade, but it has been without a government since 2017.Northern Ireland has not been ruled directly from Westminster for more than a decade, but it has been without a government since 2017.
Several attempts to kick-start devolution have already failed.Several attempts to kick-start devolution have already failed.
The DUP is due to renew the confidence-and-supply agreement on which Mr Johnson's Conservative Party depends for a working majority in the House of Commons.The DUP is due to renew the confidence-and-supply agreement on which Mr Johnson's Conservative Party depends for a working majority in the House of Commons.