British MPs back Ulster elections move

A move to allow fresh elections to be held for the Northern Ireland Assembly if the current impasse continues was approved by the Commons tonight.

The regulations would keep the option of elections open if the Assembly fails to elect new First and Deputy First ministers within six weeks.

It follows David Trimble’s resignation as First Minister on July 1 in protest at the IRA’s failure to decommission.

Junior Northern Ireland minister Des Browne told MPs that the Northern Ireland Assembly elections order 2001 was laid by the Government ‘‘purely as a precautionary measure’’.

He insisted: ‘‘It is too early yet to say what will happen; this is contingency planning.

‘‘All our focus presently is in working with the Irish Government to put together a package of proposals to carry forward the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.’’

Mr Browne said the order would change the timetable for Assembly elections with all further elections based on a 25-day timetable rather than 19 which was set for the 1998 elections.

He added: ‘‘We are continuing in our efforts to find a way forward in implementing the Good Friday Agreement.’’

For the Tories, John M Taylor said the order could have ‘‘profound implications’’ for the political process in Northern Ireland and the survival of the Belfast Agreement.

Fresh elections were far from a crisis-free option, he warned.