Power-sharing in North: Chance of deal

Since devolution in Northern Ireland collapsed in January 2017, things have been operating north of the border in a political limbo. That may be about to change.

The administration collapsed three years ago in a row about a botched green energy scheme that soon widened into disputes over the Irish language and same-sex marriage.

Several rounds of talks to restore power-sharing have so far failed, but two events make this the best chance in years for a return to devolved government.

The first is the UK general election which robbed the DUP not just of the Westminster seat held by deputy leader Nigel Dodds but also of its stranglehold over the British government. The second is the knowledge that, unless agreement can be reached, Northern Ireland will be directly ruled from London from January 13.

The current situation is profoundly anti-democratic. Without an executive in place to take decisions and be held accountable, it has fallen to Stormont’s civil servants to hold the fort. That cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely.