Blair ‘must set date for elections’

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair has been challenged to prove his commitment to political progress in the North by setting a date for Assembly elections.

Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew threw down the gauntlet to the prime minister after he said in his monthly news conference at Downing Street that devolution must be restored.

While stressing Northern Ireland had come a long way in recent years, Mr Blair insisted the current political deadlock threatened the process.

“I am convinced to sustain that progress, we do need a political settlement. In other words, the present situation, the status quo, is too fragile.

“We need the political institutions back up and running again. That is what we are gong to work towards and I hope we will be successful,” he said.

Devolution has been suspended in the North since last October when allegations of IRA spying threatened the future of the Stormont power sharing executive.

Since then the Provisionals have been under pressure from the British, Irish and US Governments to declare an end to all paramilitarism.

Ms Gildernew yesterday said Mr Blair must set a date soon for Assembly elections.

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP said: “The cause of the current difficulties in the process is the decision of Mr Blair to suspend the political institutions and cancel the Assembly elections at the behest of negative unionism.”