The deadline for holding an election in Northern Ireland will be pushed back by at least six weeks despite months of political paralysis.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris told MPs that he was setting a new December 8 deadline to hold a poll to resolve the region’s power sharing crisis, with an option to extend by a further six weeks if necessary.
The original October 28 deadline for restoring power-sharing was missed, meaning Westminster has a legal responsibility to call an election following the stalemate over the establishment of an executive at Stormont.
The assembly has not functioned since February after the DUP scuppered attempts to restore power sharing in protest at the Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol.
Mr Heaton-Harris said he would introduce a “short straightforward extension” of six weeks to December 8, with an option to extend if by a further six weeks to January 19 if necessary.
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Mr Heaton-Harris recently ruled out holding an election before Christmas, and a January poll would require a campaign through the festive period.
He will also move to reduce pay for assembly members by around a third while the Assembly is not functioning.
The Northern Ireland Secretary told MPs: “The one thing that everyone agrees on is that we must try and find a way through this current impasse.
“When I have a legal duty to call an election that few want and everyone tells me will change nothing. Thus, I will be introducing legislation to provide a short straightforward extension to the period for executive formation, extending the current period by six weeks, to December 8, with potential for a further six-week extension 19 January if necessary.
“This aims to create the time and space needed for talks between the UK Government and the European Commission to develop, and for the Northern Ireland parties to work together to restore the devolved institutions as soon as possible.”
Labour told the Government to get a grip by bringing all the parties together.
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle said: “If the Government delays any further it must give the people of Northern Ireland an explanation beyond simply saying that it is complicated.”
He added: “Will the Secretary of State consider bringing all parties together in one room so they can hear the same message at the same time from him? We need everybody to be on the same page in the challenges that face Northern Ireland.
“I met with all parties’ leaders in the week before the October 28 deadline and I did not think that what they have said since has changed. There is great hope that the nature of negotiations with the EU has changed and that a deal is close. If this is indeed the case, the Government needs to update the House regularly and keep us updated henceforth.”
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris replied: “I know that all the parties are very willing to talk with me and I hope they will be very willing to talk with each other as well, so I shall absolutely take up that opportunity.”
He added it was “probably not helpful” to give a running commentary on negotiations but said: “I think it is only right that as we move forward that I do update the House on a regular basis on these matters.”