Foster to seek direct rule if Stormont not restored

DUP leader Arlene Foster has threatened to seek the appointment of “direct rule ministers” in Northern Ireland “early in the new year” unless the near year-long Stormont stalemate is brought to an end in the coming weeks.

Ms Foster issued the demand as Leo Varadkar attempted to calm unionist fears the Republic is using Brexit as a Trojan horse to create a united Ireland after months of worsening relationships between Dublin and Belfast.

In a new year’s message, Ms Foster said she is growing tired of the repeated delays in agreeing a deal between her party and Sinn Féin to restart the power-sharing coalition.