Unworkable Sinn Fein demands make deal almost impossible: Wilson

That was the claim made by senior DUP MP Sammy Wilson, who said there was “virtually no chance” of a deal being struck ahead of the looming deadline next Monday.

If the deadline passes without an agreement being reached, the Province could be faced with a second snap Assembly election or a possible return to direct rule.

Negotiations are set to resume today, with the parties locked in discussions over issues such as the legacy of the past, parades and flags and the Irish language.

But East Antrim MP Mr Wilson believes Sinn Fein’s “unworkable” demands indicate the republican party “do not want devolution to work”.

Chief among Sinn Fein’s stipulations is that it will not enter into government with DUP leader Arlene Foster as first minister.

But Mr Wilson said: “We will be the ones to choose our first minister, not Sinn Fein.”

He told the News Letter: “Sinn Fein are setting the bar to reach an agreement at an almost impossible height.

“There is no chance of a breakthrough in the next week unless Sinn Fein roll back.

“They have fallen out with the secretary of state and said they don’t trust him to chair the talks because he is too close to the Army.

“They also want the release of sensitive documents, which the MoD will never agree to.

“They want soldiers to be brought before the courts, which a large number of backbench MPs will never agree to.

“And they want a border poll, despite Theresa May telling Scotland there will not be another referendum on Scottish independence.

“Either they are overplaying their hand or they have already made up their mind there is not going to be an agreement and they are trying to shift the blame to the British government.”

Mr Wilson claimed Sinn Fein has “boxed itself into a corner” with its red lines, but he believes there is a chance the party could relent.

He added: “In the past Sinn Fein have talked tough and then at the finish they have behaved like poodles. Just look at how they gave in over the issue of welfare reform.

“I don’t know if that will be the case this time.”

Unlike Mr Wilson, some of the other main parties are more optimistic that a deal can be reached before the deadline.

Speaking on Sunday Politics, SDLP MLA Nichola Mallon said she was “hopeful”, but added: “In the past two weeks we have saw little more than shadow boxing (from the DUP and Sinn Fein).”

She also said she was keen to see round-table talks take place.

Meanwhile, Alliance MLA Stephen Farry said: “Things need to ramp up this week.

“I am not hopeful necessarily, but I am certain it can be done.”

The News Letter asked the DUP and Sinn Fein press offices to comment on the progress of the talks, but we received no reply at the time of going to press.