Brokenshire To Introduce Northern Ireland Budget Bill

The Northern Ireland secretary has said he will take steps to allow a budget bill to be introduced in Westminster.

James Brokenshire said talks between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin had failed to reach agreement to establish an executive.

The parties are attempting to end a 10-month deadlock that has left the region without a devolved administration.

Mr Brokenshire said he would be ready to withdraw the budget bill if an an executive is formed before December.

Brokenshire To Introduce Northern Ireland Budget Bill

The budget would only deal with 2017-18 financial year, he said, adding that it did not mean a return to direct rule from Westminster.

Northern Ireland's two largest parties have failed to reach an agreement in spite of numerous rounds of discussions since March, after the Northern Ireland Executive collapsed amid a bitter split between the parties in January.
It is understood they have made little progress on key dividing issues.

Sinn Féin's demand for legislation to give official status to the Irish language viewed as the stumbling block in the negotiations.

The DUP has said it wants to see the government press ahead with its budget plan, but Sinn Féin has warned that doing so would force an end to the talks.