UUP: Assembly must have financial and legislative role

The British government was today urged to give Northern Ireland Assembly members a financial and legislative role under direct rule.

As Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley prepared to hand British Prime Minister Tony Blair his party’s proposals for phased devolution later today, the rival Ulster Unionists formally launched their plans for the Stormont Assembly to sit while Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and his ministerial team administer government departments.