Politicians urged not to wreck hopes of deal

NORTHERN politicians were told yesterday by the British Government not to squander the opportunity to restore devolved government if the IRA lived up to its promise to fully disarm and commit to peace.

Political Development Minister David Hanson said the opportunity of restoring devolution following action by the IRA must be grasped.

In his first keynote address since taking over the political brief - and the first by any Northern Ireland Office minister since the IRA’s July statement - he urged the political parties to seize the opportunity to restore devolution.