Stormont election deadline pushed back by a year

Northern Ireland parties now have until January 18 2024 to form a ministerial Executive at Stormont.

It is after Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris pushed back a deadline for calling a fresh Assembly election by a year.

If that deadline passes the Government would come under a legal responsibility to hold a snap poll within the following 12 weeks.

The Executive collapsed last February after the DUP pulled the then First Minister, Paul Givan, from his post.

It was in protest to Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol and the party has repeatedly made clear it will not be resuming power-sharing until issues it has with the treaty are changed.

Several deadlines for the calling of another election have been missed leaving the running of public services in the hands of Civil servants.

Negotiations between the UK and EU are ongoing with speculation is continuing to mount that a deal is on the cards which would reduce the red tape on trade between GB and NI

However, an agreement between London and Brussels on the protocol would not necessarily lead to the return of power-sharing, as the DUP has insisted any deal that may emerge must meet its tests on trade, sovereignty and accountability if it is to countenance re-entering Stormont.

The Cabinet minister will now table legislation in Parliament - the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill - to extend the deadline.

"Having spoken to political representatives, businesses and communities in Northern Ireland, I have concluded that another election at this time is not the best course of action to facilitate the restoration of the Executive," he said in a written ministerial statement tabled at Westminster.

On Wednesday, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Northern Ireland Protocol is lawful, following a challenge brought by a collective of unionists and Brexiteers.

Mr Heaton-Harris will hold a roundtable meeting with Stormont leaders later on Thursday to discuss the move.

On Wednesday, he met the EU's chief negotiator on the protocol, European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic, in Brussels.

Mr Heaton-Harris: "I reiterated that the UK Government is working hard to resolve the problems caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol, and the desire to see an agreed solution with the EU.

"I was clear that this extension does not influence protocol discussions.

"I remain focused on restoring devolved institutions as soon as possible and this Bill creates the best opportunity to do that.

"I will continue to do all I can to support the people of Northern Ireland in the meantime.

"I will also host Northern Ireland party leaders at a roundtable in Belfast today to urge them to restore the Executive as soon as possible.

"I very much hope that the parties will recognise the importance of getting back to work, so that a functioning Executive can take the actions needed to address the challenges facing public services in Northern Ireland."

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