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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Stormont election: NI secretary set to extend deadline | Stormont election: NI secretary set to extend deadline |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Devolved government has not functioned since February | Devolved government has not functioned since February |
| The deadline for holding a fresh assembly election is expected to be extended by the Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris. | The deadline for holding a fresh assembly election is expected to be extended by the Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris. |
| On Friday, he ruled out a Christmas poll, after insisting an election would be called as power-sharing at Stormont had not been restored. | On Friday, he ruled out a Christmas poll, after insisting an election would be called as power-sharing at Stormont had not been restored. |
| The law currently requires an election to happen by mid-January at the latest. | The law currently requires an election to happen by mid-January at the latest. |
| Mr Heaton-Harris is due to spell out the next steps in parliament later on Wednesday. | Mr Heaton-Harris is due to spell out the next steps in parliament later on Wednesday. |
| He is expected to outline his plans to Stormont party leaders in a series of calls before giving MPs an update in the House of Commons. | He is expected to outline his plans to Stormont party leaders in a series of calls before giving MPs an update in the House of Commons. |
| Devolved government has not functioned since February, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) blocking the formation of the ruling executive. | Devolved government has not functioned since February, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) blocking the formation of the ruling executive. |
| The party has taken that stance in its protest against the post-Brexit trading arrangement known as the Northern Ireland Protocol. | The party has taken that stance in its protest against the post-Brexit trading arrangement known as the Northern Ireland Protocol. |
| The protocol was designed to ensure free trade could continue across the Irish land border, but it has led to new checks on some goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. | The protocol was designed to ensure free trade could continue across the Irish land border, but it has led to new checks on some goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. |
| Read more: Stormont crisis explained | Read more: Stormont crisis explained |
| Q&A: Will there be an election in Northern Ireland? | Q&A: Will there be an election in Northern Ireland? |
| A simple guide to the Northern Ireland Protocol | A simple guide to the Northern Ireland Protocol |
| Who is Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris? | Who is Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris? |
| It had been expected that a poll could be held on 15 December and electoral staff had been preparing for that date. | It had been expected that a poll could be held on 15 December and electoral staff had been preparing for that date. |
| But on Friday, Mr Heaton-Harris said having heard concerns about the impact and cost of a snap election, it would not take place "ahead of the festive season". | But on Friday, Mr Heaton-Harris said having heard concerns about the impact and cost of a snap election, it would not take place "ahead of the festive season". |
| In October, Chris Heaton-Harris said he would call an election if the executive formation deadline was missed | |
| In October, Chris Heaton-Harris said he would call an election if the executive formation deadline was missed | |
| The latest that an election could take place within the current 12-week period set by Westminster is 19 January, but that would require a campaign over Christmas. | The latest that an election could take place within the current 12-week period set by Westminster is 19 January, but that would require a campaign over Christmas. |
| Instead, it is anticipated that the government will pass new legislation to push back that deadline. | Instead, it is anticipated that the government will pass new legislation to push back that deadline. |
| Mr Heaton-Harris is also likely to indicate that he will pass a budget for Northern Ireland via Westminster and provide additional powers to Stormont civil servants to allow them to take some decisions in the absence of ministers. | Mr Heaton-Harris is also likely to indicate that he will pass a budget for Northern Ireland via Westminster and provide additional powers to Stormont civil servants to allow them to take some decisions in the absence of ministers. |
| He has also suggested he will move to implement a pay cut for MLAs, something that has been done by the government during previous periods of stalemate at Stormont. | He has also suggested he will move to implement a pay cut for MLAs, something that has been done by the government during previous periods of stalemate at Stormont. |
| On Tuesday, Derek Chollet, counselor of the US Department of State, said he had spoken to Mr Heaton-Harris and reaffirmed his administration's support for the restoration of Stormont and the Good Friday Agreement. | On Tuesday, Derek Chollet, counselor of the US Department of State, said he had spoken to Mr Heaton-Harris and reaffirmed his administration's support for the restoration of Stormont and the Good Friday Agreement. |
| He added the US hoped "negotiations on the implementation of the NI Protocol will bring agreed solutions". | He added the US hoped "negotiations on the implementation of the NI Protocol will bring agreed solutions". |