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| Stormont: NI election deadline extended as MLA pay to be cut | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Assembly members have continued to receive their £51,500 salary despite NI's government not functioning since February | Assembly members have continued to receive their £51,500 salary despite NI's government not functioning since February |
| The government has extended the deadline for a Northern Ireland executive to be formed and outlined plans to cut assembly members' pay. | |
| Northern Ireland has been without a functioning government since February. | |
| NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the new 8 December deadline can be extended by a further six-weeks, meaning the latest an assembly election can be held is 13 April. | |
| MLA wages are also to be cut by about a third, BBC News NI understands. | |
| The executive has been blocked from meeting due to the DUP's protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol. | |
| Election delays | Election delays |
| On announcing his "short, straightforward extension", Mr Heaton-Harris said: "I think it would be fair to say, Mr Speaker, that the vast majority of those I have spoken to think that an election at this time would be unwelcome." | |
| Highlighting a £660m "budget black hole", the NI Secretary said he must take "limited but necessary steps to protect Northern Ireland's public finances and the delivery of public services". | |
| The legislation awards senior civil servants - who have replaced departmental ministers - greater control in the running of Stormont departments. | |
| "So, as has been done before, the legislation I introduce will also enable Northern Ireland departments to support public service delivery; make a small number of vital public appointments, like to the Northern Ireland Policing Board; and address the serious budgetary issues mentioned already," he told MPs. | |
| On politicians' pay, assembly members (MLAs) currently receive an annual salary of £51,500 a year. | |
| The secretary of state said people would be frustrated to see politicians receive their full salaries without an executive. | |
| "I will thus be asking for the House's support to enable me to reduce MLAs' salaries appropriately," he said. | |
| There is a precedent for MLAs having their pay reduced during a period of political limbo at Stormont. | There is a precedent for MLAs having their pay reduced during a period of political limbo at Stormont. |
| In 2018, politicians' pay was cut by 27% following a review undertaken by the former assembly chief executive Trevor Reaney. | In 2018, politicians' pay was cut by 27% following a review undertaken by the former assembly chief executive Trevor Reaney. |
| Karen Bradley, during her time as Northern Ireland secretary, then imposed a pay cut in two stages. | Karen Bradley, during her time as Northern Ireland secretary, then imposed a pay cut in two stages. |
| Almost £2.8m has been paid out in salaries to MLA's since they were elected in May - despite not taking up their seats in the Stormont chamber. | Almost £2.8m has been paid out in salaries to MLA's since they were elected in May - despite not taking up their seats in the Stormont chamber. |
| So cutting their salaries will be a popular move with an electorate struggling to pay bills. | So cutting their salaries will be a popular move with an electorate struggling to pay bills. |
| But it will have little impact in pushing the politicians back to work. | But it will have little impact in pushing the politicians back to work. |
| The DUP's boycott of the Executive will continue with former minister Edwin Poots insisting cutting his salary to a penny a week would make no difference. | The DUP's boycott of the Executive will continue with former minister Edwin Poots insisting cutting his salary to a penny a week would make no difference. |
| Unlike previously when salaries were cut, this time all the other parties who are willing to restore the Executive are being punished. | Unlike previously when salaries were cut, this time all the other parties who are willing to restore the Executive are being punished. |
| Back then it was a Sinn Féin boycott which triggered the cut and pay was restored when the parties negotiated the New Decade-New Approach deal. | Back then it was a Sinn Féin boycott which triggered the cut and pay was restored when the parties negotiated the New Decade-New Approach deal. |
| This time resolving the crisis and restoring the salaries is beyond the control of local politicians. | This time resolving the crisis and restoring the salaries is beyond the control of local politicians. |
| It is in the hands of UK and EU negotiating teams. | It is in the hands of UK and EU negotiating teams. |
| Election date confusion | Election date confusion |
| May 2022 - Sinn Fein wins most seats in Assembly election; DUP refuses to nominate deputy first minister, meaning no executive can formed | May 2022 - Sinn Fein wins most seats in Assembly election; DUP refuses to nominate deputy first minister, meaning no executive can formed |
| 4 October - Newly-appointed NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris says he will call a fresh election if no executive is formed within 12 weeks - on 28 October | 4 October - Newly-appointed NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris says he will call a fresh election if no executive is formed within 12 weeks - on 28 October |
| 18 October- He says he "cannot be clearer" that an election will be triggered if executive is not restored by 00:01 on 28 October | 18 October- He says he "cannot be clearer" that an election will be triggered if executive is not restored by 00:01 on 28 October |
| 19 October - He defends his plans | 19 October - He defends his plans |
| 28 October- Legal deadline passes. Mr Heaton-Harris says he will hold an election, but does not set a date | 28 October- Legal deadline passes. Mr Heaton-Harris says he will hold an election, but does not set a date |
| 4 November - It is announced there will be no election before Christmas | 4 November - It is announced there will be no election before Christmas |
| 9 November - Deadline for reforming executive set to be extended to 19 January, BBC News NI understands | 9 November - Deadline for reforming executive set to be extended to 19 January, BBC News NI understands |
| 13 April - Deadline for fresh election (if 12-week window for holding poll opens on 19 January) | 13 April - Deadline for fresh election (if 12-week window for holding poll opens on 19 January) |
| Last Friday, Mr Heaton-Harris ruled out a Christmas poll, after insisting an election would be called as power-sharing at Stormont had not been restored. | |
| Devolved government has not fully functioned since February, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) blocking the formation of the ruling executive. | |
| The party says this stance is part of its protest against the post-Brexit trading arrangement known as the Northern Ireland Protocol. | |
| Sinn Féin won the most seats in May's election, entitling the party to nominate for the position of first minister. | |
| It has accused the DUP of refusing to return to power-sharing because an Irish nationalist would take up the post. | |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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". |
| 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? |