Elaine Loughlin: Weeks of tough negotiations to get North's executive up and running

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald accuses DUP of 'political posturing' on the protocol which will only cause suffering for families and workers as the cost of living soars

Alliance Party MLAs Kate Nicholl, party leader Naomi Long, and Paula Bradshaw celebrating at the count centre at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA

Getting the Northern Ireland Executive up and running will take weeks of tough talks, with the DUP unwilling to enter power-sharing until significant changes are made to the Brexit protocol.

Describing it as a “terrible vista”, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald has accused the DUP of “political posturing” on the protocol, which will only cause suffering for families and workers as the cost of living soars.