NI Assembly: Chris Heaton-Harris to extend election deadline again

The deadline to hold an assembly election if no executive is formed is to be extended until 8 February.

The very short extension will provide more time as the DUP is yet to decide whether to return to power sharing.

The party has been blocking devolved government since February 2022 over post-Brexit trade rules for NI.

The DUP said the deadline extension was "recognition that, whilst significant progress has been made, to date an agreement has not been reached".

"We will continue to engage with the government as we seek to successfully finalise all the remaining outstanding issues between us. We are working to that end," a DUP spokesperson said.

"The government knows our view that it is only when we have resolved the remaining outstanding issues that we will be able to bring about the necessary conditions for the return of devolved government."

In the absence of a decision being taken by the DUP, the government must legislate to push back a requirement for fresh assembly elections and forming an executive.

Legislation to do that is to be fast tracked through the Commons on Wednesday, according to Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris.

However, the SDLP said it will try to amend that legislation to remove the "one-party veto" on re-establishing the assembly.

SDLP MPs Colum Eastwood and Claire Hanna will ask the House of Commons to reform the rules governing the election an assembly speaker in such a way that it would only require the support of a two-thirds majority in Stormont.

They will also ask MPs to support an amendment placing an obligation on Mr Heaton-Harris to deliver a pay award for public sector workers in the absence of devolution.

The DUP is facing pressure to say if it will back a deal to end the 23-month impasse at Stormont.

The most recent legal deadline expired last week, with no breakthrough as yet in talks between the DUP and the government.

On Monday, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he was continuing to engage with Number 10 and that he was working to "finalise" discussions.

The government has already passed similar legislation to extend Stormont election deadlines on several occasions.

"Tomorrow I will be introducing the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill to allow for the reformation of Stormont," the secretary of state added.

"The bill only has a single clause: to extend the period of time Stormont can legitimately come back until the 8 February.

"I am committed to restoring devolution and significant progress has been made towards that objective. I believe that this bill, with the constrained timescales, will be sufficient."

Mr Heaton-Harris has previously indicated that even if Stormont is not restored by the deadline, he will not seek to call another election and would instead "legislate to protect public services".

Some parties have questioned what that would look like, insisting that there can be no return to direct rule from London and that the Irish government would have to play a bigger consultative role.

Even once a decision is taken by DUP officers on whether to back a deal, Sir Jeffrey has given a guarantee to his party executive - which is made up of more than 100 members - that they will be able to discuss any decision made.

Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, who would be entitled to the first minister role in a restored executive, said it was "time for action".

"My message to the DUP is to work with us, get round the executive table and make a difference to people's lives," she said.

The DUP has blocked the election of an Assembly Speaker seven times since 2022 and without a Speaker in post, no other business can be conducted in the chamber.

Mr Eastwood said the DUP's actions had "overridden the clear will of a majority of MLAs".

"The psychodrama of the last few days, and the last few years, has helped no one. It is now time for political leaders to get back to work and for the DUP to make a deal," he added.