Stormont Assembly members’ pay to be cut by 27.5% from January 1

On Thursday, the Cabinet minister also triggered an option to extend a deadline to form a new devolved Executive in Belfast by a further six weeks.

(Niall Carson/PA)

The Northern Ireland Secretary confirmed a pay cut for Stormont Assembly members will come into force in January as he moved to further extend an election deadline in the region.

Chris Heaton-Harris will reduce MLA salaries by 27.5% on January 1 to reflect the fact that they are not doing their job as legislators during the ongoing powersharing impasse.