Blair asked to break policing deadlock

British prime minister Tony Blair has been asked to break the new deadlock over policing and power-sharing in the North, it emerged today.

After Sinn Féin hinted its special party conference to consider endorsing the Police Service of Northern Ireland was in doubt, it is understood Mr Blair has returned early from his holiday in Florida in a bid to bridge the gap between Gerry Adams’ party and Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists.