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Chris Heaton-Harris says DUP have a 'choice' over early election Chris Heaton-Harris says DUP have a 'choice' over early election
(4 months later)
Chris Heaton-Harris said there are "many domestic issues in Northern Ireland" that the DUP could help to sort outChris Heaton-Harris said there are "many domestic issues in Northern Ireland" that the DUP could help to sort out
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has a "choice" to prevent an early Stormont election.Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has a "choice" to prevent an early Stormont election.
Speaking to Sky News, he called on the party to re-enter devolved government.Speaking to Sky News, he called on the party to re-enter devolved government.
Stormont ministers lost much of their powers in February due to a DUP protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol.Stormont ministers lost much of their powers in February due to a DUP protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Mr Heaton-Harris has repeatedly said he will call an election if the Stormont executive is not fully restored by 00:01 on 28 October.Mr Heaton-Harris has repeatedly said he will call an election if the Stormont executive is not fully restored by 00:01 on 28 October.
"The Democratic Unionist Party have got an opportunity to come back in," he told the Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme."The Democratic Unionist Party have got an opportunity to come back in," he told the Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme.
"It's really important, I think, that they do because there are so many domestic issues in Northern Ireland that would be helped by their re-entering into the executive."It's really important, I think, that they do because there are so many domestic issues in Northern Ireland that would be helped by their re-entering into the executive.
"They've got some really talented politicians themselves who can help sort those issues out."They've got some really talented politicians themselves who can help sort those issues out.
"There is a choice that people can make to stop an election happening but it has got to be made by elected representatives in Northern Ireland going back into the assembly.""There is a choice that people can make to stop an election happening but it has got to be made by elected representatives in Northern Ireland going back into the assembly."
Elections are 'never a waste of time and money'Elections are 'never a waste of time and money'
Q&A: Is Northern Ireland going back to the polls?Q&A: Is Northern Ireland going back to the polls?
Mr Heaton-Harris has publicly backed Boris Johnson to return to Downing Street as prime minister, as the race to replace Liz Truss continues.Mr Heaton-Harris has publicly backed Boris Johnson to return to Downing Street as prime minister, as the race to replace Liz Truss continues.
However, his colleague in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), Steve Baker, said Mr Johnson would be a "guaranteed disaster" and confirmed he is supporting the former chancellor Rishi Sunak.However, his colleague in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), Steve Baker, said Mr Johnson would be a "guaranteed disaster" and confirmed he is supporting the former chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office Steve Baker said the next PM should not to deviate on the Northern Ireland ProtocolMinister of State at the Northern Ireland Office Steve Baker said the next PM should not to deviate on the Northern Ireland Protocol
"I'm not willing to lay down my integrity for Boris Johnson," Mr Baker said."I'm not willing to lay down my integrity for Boris Johnson," Mr Baker said.
"If Boris is in charge, his premiership will implode and we'll be back here.""If Boris is in charge, his premiership will implode and we'll be back here."
NIO split over new PMNIO split over new PM
Analysis by BBC News NI political correspondent Darran MarshallAnalysis by BBC News NI political correspondent Darran Marshall
Two Northern Ireland ministers, both former ERG chairmen, endorse two different candidates for the top job.Two Northern Ireland ministers, both former ERG chairmen, endorse two different candidates for the top job.
Chris Heaton-Harris was Boris Johnson's chief whip and says his old boss has a proven track record.Chris Heaton-Harris was Boris Johnson's chief whip and says his old boss has a proven track record.
His rival for the job, Rishi Sunak, has managed to win the backing of Julian Smith, Simon Hoare, Lord Frost, and now Steve Baker. Those four men rarely agree on much these days.His rival for the job, Rishi Sunak, has managed to win the backing of Julian Smith, Simon Hoare, Lord Frost, and now Steve Baker. Those four men rarely agree on much these days.
Baker's endorsement seems significant - it shows Sunak has the ability to win over hard-line Brexiteers.Baker's endorsement seems significant - it shows Sunak has the ability to win over hard-line Brexiteers.
Heaton-Harris and Baker took to the airwaves to give full throttle endorsements of their candidates.Heaton-Harris and Baker took to the airwaves to give full throttle endorsements of their candidates.
But then both took to Twitter for a political love-in.But then both took to Twitter for a political love-in.
Mr Baker warned prime ministerial candidates that they must stick to the government's current course on the Northern Ireland Protocol if they wanted to stay in power.Mr Baker warned prime ministerial candidates that they must stick to the government's current course on the Northern Ireland Protocol if they wanted to stay in power.
"Irrespective of what I think, those Eurosceptic colleagues who I know and love like brothers and sisters will absolutely not tolerate any divergence from what we've said we are going to do," he said."Irrespective of what I think, those Eurosceptic colleagues who I know and love like brothers and sisters will absolutely not tolerate any divergence from what we've said we are going to do," he said.
"Look at the recent past. It doesn't matter whether people like it or not - they will do what they will do and they will bring down any prime minister who doesn't do what they say they will do.""Look at the recent past. It doesn't matter whether people like it or not - they will do what they will do and they will bring down any prime minister who doesn't do what they say they will do."
Would the real Steve Baker please stand up?Would the real Steve Baker please stand up?
Micheál Martin welcomes Steve Baker's apology over Brexit talksMicheál Martin welcomes Steve Baker's apology over Brexit talks
Mr Baker said he had spoken to Mr Sunak three times in the past 24 hours.Mr Baker said he had spoken to Mr Sunak three times in the past 24 hours.
He said he was "absolutely not concerned that Rishi will follow through" with plans to implement the Northern Ireland Protocol in its current state.He said he was "absolutely not concerned that Rishi will follow through" with plans to implement the Northern Ireland Protocol in its current state.
"The same policy must be carried forward," said Mr Baker."The same policy must be carried forward," said Mr Baker.
"I'm very pleased that (chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs committee) Simon Hoare and I have united on this point."I'm very pleased that (chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs committee) Simon Hoare and I have united on this point.
"Everyone needs to understand that the legitimate interest of unionists is to end the jurisdiction of EU law in Northern Ireland."Everyone needs to understand that the legitimate interest of unionists is to end the jurisdiction of EU law in Northern Ireland.
"We will not have devolved government in Northern Ireland until it is done."We will not have devolved government in Northern Ireland until it is done.
"That means we will not be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement - this is big stuff.""That means we will not be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement - this is big stuff."
He added: "We can offer friendship and humility and apologies when they're needed but in the end, we've got to end the jurisdiction of EU law in Northern Ireland."He added: "We can offer friendship and humility and apologies when they're needed but in the end, we've got to end the jurisdiction of EU law in Northern Ireland."
Related Topics
Chris Heaton-Harris
DUP (Democratic Unionist Party)
Steven Baker