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Bush in Tory appeal over NI deal Bush in Tory appeal over NI deal
(20 minutes later)
Ex-US President George W Bush has asked David Cameron to help secure the Ulster Unionists' support for the transfer of justice powers in Northern Ireland. Ex-US President George W Bush has asked David Cameron to help secure Ulster Unionist (UUP) support for the transfer of justice powers in Northern Ireland.
The Conservatives have an electoral pact with the UUP, prompting the call.
The NI Assembly is due to vote on the transfer of powers from Westminster later. On Monday, the Ulster Unionist Party confirmed they would vote "no".The NI Assembly is due to vote on the transfer of powers from Westminster later. On Monday, the Ulster Unionist Party confirmed they would vote "no".
Their decision will not scupper the deal. The DUP and Sinn Fein have enough votes to ensure that it is passed.Their decision will not scupper the deal. The DUP and Sinn Fein have enough votes to ensure that it is passed.
The Conservatives have an electoral pact with the UUP, prompting the call. Mr Bush and US Secretary Hillary Clinton have both applied pressure.
Mr Bush and US Secretary Hillary Clinton have both given their help. Mrs Clinton spoke to UUP leader Sir Reg Empey on Friday and to Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness, at the weekend.
Mrs Clinton spoke to Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness, at the weekend. The vote at Stormont is the first major hurdle for the Hillsborough Castle deal, which was struck last month in an historic agreement between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein.
The vote at Stormont is the first hurdle for the Hillsborough Castle deal, which was struck last month in an historic agreement between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein.
If the vote is passed, it will lead to powers being devolved by 12 April.If the vote is passed, it will lead to powers being devolved by 12 April.
The DUP and Sinn Fein have enough assembly members to ensure the vote has the necessary cross-community support to be passed.The DUP and Sinn Fein have enough assembly members to ensure the vote has the necessary cross-community support to be passed.
However, the DUP would like UUP support to show that the deal has wide backing among unionists.
In his phone conversation with Mr Bush on Friday, Mr Cameron made it clear that, despite his party's links with the UUP, he was not in a position to tell them what to do.In his phone conversation with Mr Bush on Friday, Mr Cameron made it clear that, despite his party's links with the UUP, he was not in a position to tell them what to do.
ANALYSIS Mark Simpson, BBC Ireland correspondentANALYSIS Mark Simpson, BBC Ireland correspondent
Devolving policing and justiceDevolving policing and justice
It took 10 days and nights to negotiate the Hillsborough Castle deal, and now it faces its first hurdle. Tuesday's vote at Stormont is important - just ask former President George Bush and the current US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.It took 10 days and nights to negotiate the Hillsborough Castle deal, and now it faces its first hurdle. Tuesday's vote at Stormont is important - just ask former President George Bush and the current US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
They have been involved in trans-Atlantic telephone diplomacy to try to ensure that the vote on the transfer of policing powers from London to Belfast gains all-party support.They have been involved in trans-Atlantic telephone diplomacy to try to ensure that the vote on the transfer of policing powers from London to Belfast gains all-party support.
Barring a last-minute dramatic twist, that won't happen. The Ulster Unionists will say "no".Barring a last-minute dramatic twist, that won't happen. The Ulster Unionists will say "no".
However, this will not scupper the deal. If the Democratic Unionists vote "yes" - and all the indications so far are that they will - the motion will be passed.However, this will not scupper the deal. If the Democratic Unionists vote "yes" - and all the indications so far are that they will - the motion will be passed.
So why all the fuss? It seems there are fears that the deal could eventually collapse without all-party support.So why all the fuss? It seems there are fears that the deal could eventually collapse without all-party support.
On Monday, the UUP accused Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward of political and emotional blackmail after he urged the Ulster Unionists to vote in favour of devolution. The UUP have faced intense pressure from across the political spectrum.
On Monday, the party accused Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward of political and emotional blackmail after he urged the Ulster Unionists to vote in favour of devolution.
UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy said Mr Woodward had "disgracefully" linked the vote to the anniversary of the murder of Constable Stephen Carroll.UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy said Mr Woodward had "disgracefully" linked the vote to the anniversary of the murder of Constable Stephen Carroll.
The vote takes place exactly a year after the police officer was murdered by the Continuity IRA in Craigavon.The vote takes place exactly a year after the police officer was murdered by the Continuity IRA in Craigavon.
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said later: "We're not prepared to be blackmailed, we're not prepared to be bullied. We've been around a long time.UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said later: "We're not prepared to be blackmailed, we're not prepared to be bullied. We've been around a long time.
"Our history is our strength. And we are prepared to go forward and look to the future. But not under the cosh of all this blackmail and bullying.""Our history is our strength. And we are prepared to go forward and look to the future. But not under the cosh of all this blackmail and bullying."
However, the former DUP leader, Ian Paisley, said the UUP were making "a colossal mistake" by not voting for the devolution of policing and justice powers.However, the former DUP leader, Ian Paisley, said the UUP were making "a colossal mistake" by not voting for the devolution of policing and justice powers.
Disagreement on the timing of the devolution of the justice powers had threatened to collapse Northern Ireland's power-sharing administration.Disagreement on the timing of the devolution of the justice powers had threatened to collapse Northern Ireland's power-sharing administration.
However, in February, Northern Ireland's two main parties made the agreement which, if the powers are devolved as expected, will see a justice minister elected.However, in February, Northern Ireland's two main parties made the agreement which, if the powers are devolved as expected, will see a justice minister elected.
The Hillsborough Agreement allows for the first and deputy first ministers to identify a candidate who would command cross-community support in the assembly.The Hillsborough Agreement allows for the first and deputy first ministers to identify a candidate who would command cross-community support in the assembly.
Agreement in full A truly historic deal? Policing and justice: Key points Reaction: Policing and justice Agreement in full A truly historic deal? Policing and justice: Key points Reaction: Policing and justice
Alliance leader David Ford is favourite to take the post.Alliance leader David Ford is favourite to take the post.
Alban Maginness, SDLP, is the only other candidate to have been put forward for the job. The two smaller parties in Northern Ireland's mandatory coalition - the UUP and the SDLP - have insisted Alliance has no right to the post under the d'Hondt system for selecting ministers, which was agreed in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
The Ulster Unionists and the SDLP have insisted Alliance has no right to the post under the d'Hondt system for selecting ministers, which was agreed in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
The UUP also said they could not back the Hillsborough deal on policing and justice because it failed to address matters such as education, parading and "the dysfunctional nature of the current executive".The UUP also said they could not back the Hillsborough deal on policing and justice because it failed to address matters such as education, parading and "the dysfunctional nature of the current executive".
Some commentators have also speculated that they are unwilling to give political cover to the DUP as they recall how the party did them no favours when they were striking deals with Sinn Fein.
Meanwhile, an opinion poll commissioned by the Northern Ireland Executive published on Monday has indicated that the majority of people in Northern Ireland favour devolving justice powers.Meanwhile, an opinion poll commissioned by the Northern Ireland Executive published on Monday has indicated that the majority of people in Northern Ireland favour devolving justice powers.
It also suggests that 70% of unionists favour Northern Ireland politicians being in charge of policing issues, compared to 83% of nationalists.It also suggests that 70% of unionists favour Northern Ireland politicians being in charge of policing issues, compared to 83% of nationalists.