Stormont talks to resume today
Five main parties will join Secretary of State and Tanaiste
Last updated 15th Feb 2019
Northern Ireland’s five main political parties are to take part in talks later today (Friday) in a join bid by the British and Irish Governments to kick-start Stormont.
Secretary of State Karen Bradley will attend along with Tanaiste Simon Coveney.
Earlier, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, will host an all-island civic dialogue on Brexit this morning.
Meanwhile, Theresa May tumbled to another substantial Commons defeat after Tory Brexiteers and Remainers failed to back her approach to Brexit.
The Prime Minister saw fewer than 250 of her MPs vote in favour of a motion which backed the Brexit plans endorsed by the Commons on January 29, and noted discussions to resolve the Northern Ireland backstop are ongoing.
Concerns over the wording of the motion among Tory Eurosceptics, given that the January 29 decisions included rejecting a no-deal Brexit, led to the prominent European Research Group (ERG) abstaining in large numbers.
But Mrs May has vowed to press on.