It's been confirmed that fresh Assembly elections will not be held in Northern Ireland before Christmas.
In a statement this morning, Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, says a vote will not now happen in December. “I can now confirm that no Assembly election will take place in December, or ahead of the festive season. Current legislation requires me to name a date for an election to take place within 12 weeks of 28 October and next week, I will make a statement in Parliament to lay out my next steps.
The deadline for the formation of a new executive passed last Friday, six months after May's Stormont elections.
The people of Northern Ireland deserve a strong devolved government. I have had valuable conversations with Party leaders and people across Northern Ireland over the past week and have listened to their concerns about the impact and cost of an election at this time. (1/2)
— Chris Heaton-Harris MP (@chhcalling) November 4, 2022
The DUP is refusing to return to power-sharing over the Northern Ireland Protocol brought in following Brexit.
We need a razor sharp focus on getting a solution, whether by negotiation or legislation. There is no solid basis for a fully functioning Stormont until NIP is replaced with arrangements that unionists can support. Progress in NI only made when unionists & nationalists are aboard https://t.co/6B8ftsRo50
— Jeffrey Donaldson MP (@J_Donaldson_MP) November 4, 2022
