UUP leader calls for talks to end mandatory power-sharing

Ulster Unionist leader Reg Empey called today for early talks with his SDLP counterpart over his proposal that mandatory power-sharing between nationalists and unionists at Stormont should be ended.

SDLP chief Mark Durkan claimed in a keynote speech in Oxford last night that the time was approaching when rules introduced to protect nationalists in the North's government should be removed.

Empey said he would be interested in early talks with Mr Durkan on his suggestion.

"The present arrangements were brought in to encourage everybody to participate in devolution, and now that has happened there is an opportunity to move on and consider alternatives," he said.

The present impasse at Stormont between the DUP and Sinn Féin, and the failure of the Executive to do business in recent months, illustrated the need to review how the Executive was constructed, he added.

Empey said: "With growing confidence throughout the community, the time may be right to consider more acceptable and democratic forms of government as part of the Assembly's review process."

Mr Durkan told an audience in Oxford that a system of designation was necessary to get devolution up and running.

But he added: "As we move towards a fully sealed and settled process, we should be preparing to think about how and when to remove some of the ugly scaffolding needed during the construction of the new edifice."

Mr Durkan went on: "The possibilities for political realignment with new or changing party offerings in the future could be stunted by permanent reliance to the present degree on designation.

"If we are serious about a truly shared future then we have to allow for truly shared politics where parties can - and have to - appeal across the traditional divides.

"Protections of rights, interests and identities will still be needed but not only for, or only as, either unionists or nationalists."

Meanwhile, Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward predicted the DUP and Sinn Féin would resolve the differences between them over the devolution of policing and justice.

"I am optimistic, because what this really comes back to is whether the politicians want to make it work.

"I believe they do," he told Radio Ulster's 'Inside Politics' programme.