Devolution push unlikely before Autumn

British Prime Minister Tony Blair will decide on Friday whether to get directly re-involved with efforts to restore devolution to Northern Ireland, it was revealed today.

Ulster Secretary Paul Murphy said the decision would be made by Mr Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern during discussions in Brussels.

However it is expected they will only return to Belfast for discussions with the parties if they believe a deal is possible.

At present there are little or no signs that such a deal is imminent and a major push for agreement to restore the power-sharing administration is likely to be put off to the autumn, when the tensions of the traditional summer marching season are over.

Mr Murphy co-hosted a further day of the Good Friday Agreement review talks with Justice Minister Michael McDowell at Stormont today and said there was “constructive engagement” with the parties.

He said the British government would publish a summary of the review to date on Monday.

Meanwhile, hot on the heels of its European election success, the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party announced today it was planning to deliver a killer blow to the rival Ulster Unionists at the next General Election in the UK.

It will seek to oust the UUP from all its seats after extending its constituency target list to include all unionist-held seats.

The DUP’s director of elections, deputy leader Peter Robinson, claimed they could also win Sinn Féin-held Fermanagh and South Tyrone if the UUP stood aside and gave them a clear run to challenge Michelle Gildernew.

Mr Robinson said data from the European election showed a “massive increase” in support for the DUP.

“It has widened the gap with the UUP to an all-time high. Never before in our history has the DUP been given such a massive percentage of the unionist vote,” said Mr Robinson.

The DUP had more votes than the UUP in every constituency in Northern Ireland, he said.

The party had planned to stand in the six seats it already holds and to target East Antrim, South Antrim and Upper Bann, he said.

As a result of the latest election results, Mr Robinson said they were adding North Down (held by the UUP’s Lady Hermon), South Belfast (held by the UUP’s Rev Martin Smyth) and Fermanagh and South Tyrone, which he said they could win if the UUP stood aside.

In addition the party is revising its plans for the local council elections and will “substantially increase” the number of candidates fielded to take account of their increased support.

Senior Ulster Unionist Michael McGimpsey accused Mr Robinson of “scaremongering” and “attempting to intimidate the unionist electorate”.

And angrily he declared: “How dare he mention Fermanagh and South Tyrone, it was his party action which split the unionist vote at the last General Election and handed the seat to Sinn Féin.”

Mr McGimpsey said Mr Robinson well knew one of the most vulnerable unionist seats was his own in east Belfast.

“It is the No 1 target for the Ulster Unionist Party . Let Peter Robinson look to his own back yard before he starts lecturing the unionist people,” he said.