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Theresa Villiers to meet party leaders over Stormont crisis Theresa Villiers to meet party leaders over Stormont crisis
(about 4 hours later)
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers hopes to meet party leaders later to discuss the crisis over welfare reform.Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers hopes to meet party leaders later to discuss the crisis over welfare reform.
Ms Villiers said Sinn Féin's decision to withdraw support for the welfare reform bill was a setback.Ms Villiers said Sinn Féin's decision to withdraw support for the welfare reform bill was a setback.
Without agreement on welfare, a budget at Stormont was unsustainable, she said.Without agreement on welfare, a budget at Stormont was unsustainable, she said.
She also welcomed the involvement of the US administration. She said the White House shared her disappointment.She also welcomed the involvement of the US administration. She said the White House shared her disappointment.
Earlier on Thursday, US envoy Gary Hart urged Northern Ireland's political parties to sort out the political deadlock over welfare reform.Earlier on Thursday, US envoy Gary Hart urged Northern Ireland's political parties to sort out the political deadlock over welfare reform.
He said that a deal would mean meetings planned for St Patrick's Day in Washington could go ahead.He said that a deal would mean meetings planned for St Patrick's Day in Washington could go ahead.
It had been reported that First Minister Peter Robinson might pull out of the visit to meet President Obama in the wake of the latest Stormont crisis.It had been reported that First Minister Peter Robinson might pull out of the visit to meet President Obama in the wake of the latest Stormont crisis.
The first and deputy first ministers have just returned from the US on Thursday. Mr Robinson and Martin McGuinness were on a short visit for investment meetings.The first and deputy first ministers have just returned from the US on Thursday. Mr Robinson and Martin McGuinness were on a short visit for investment meetings.
At the start of this week, Sinn Féin withdrew support for welfare reform legislation.At the start of this week, Sinn Féin withdrew support for welfare reform legislation.
The move has raised questions about the future of devolved government in Northern Ireland.The move has raised questions about the future of devolved government in Northern Ireland.
Analysis: Mark Devenport, BBC NI Political Editor
Talking to senior politicians around Stormont, we could have quite a few more months of the assembly and executive wandering around in a kind of zombie form hat.Talking to senior politicians around Stormont, we could have quite a few more months of the assembly and executive wandering around in a kind of zombie form hat.
The new budget that they have passed, even if it is fatally undermined by some of the assumptions that it was based on now being out the window, will still come into force at the turn of the financial year in early April.The new budget that they have passed, even if it is fatally undermined by some of the assumptions that it was based on now being out the window, will still come into force at the turn of the financial year in early April.
It could blunder on at least until June which is the first monitoring round when the finance minister has to assess things. It may that, at that point, the internal contradictions will be so large that either the Treasury will have to step in or the finance minister will somehow throw in the towel.It could blunder on at least until June which is the first monitoring round when the finance minister has to assess things. It may that, at that point, the internal contradictions will be so large that either the Treasury will have to step in or the finance minister will somehow throw in the towel.
At the moment, neither the first or deputy first minister shows any sign of resigning so any notion of a snap election seems to have gone away a little.At the moment, neither the first or deputy first minister shows any sign of resigning so any notion of a snap election seems to have gone away a little.
Mark Devenport, Political Editor
On Wednesday, Sinn Féin released a 25-page dossier to explain why it had withdrawn support from the welfare reform bill.On Wednesday, Sinn Féin released a 25-page dossier to explain why it had withdrawn support from the welfare reform bill.
It repeats the party's accusation that the DUP "acted in bad faith" during talks between the two parties on welfare reform implementation.It repeats the party's accusation that the DUP "acted in bad faith" during talks between the two parties on welfare reform implementation.
Sinn Féin said it had made it clear it wanted to provide full protection for current and future benefits claimants.Sinn Féin said it had made it clear it wanted to provide full protection for current and future benefits claimants.
The DUP said there "wasn't the money in December and there is not the money in March" for what Sinn Féin wanted.The DUP said there "wasn't the money in December and there is not the money in March" for what Sinn Féin wanted.