Doug Beattie on Stormont impasse: 'We are either going to go into government or we're not'

The Ulster Unionist leader said it has been “disheartening” to hear the latest speculation around a possible return to the powersharing executive before Christmas.

It has been reported in recent days that civil servants have been told to ensure that everything is in place for the restoration of the Stormont Executive.

Quoting Stormont sources, the Belfast Telegraph said: “It is being kept low-key, but staff are being put on notice that a return of ministers could happen soon… some staff who have been working from home much of the time have been put on notice that, if and when ministers return, they will need to be out and about with them, and to prepare for that”.

Last week, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the UK Government’s talks with the DUP were in the final phases, and a “more positive space”.

Mr Beattie said: "I've been hearing this since March of this year. Since March I've been told 'it'll be two weeks, it'll be three weeks, it'll be two weeks' – that's been continuous so it's becoming a little bit disheartening.

"What I would say is, we do have to get to a position where a decision is going to be made... we are either going to go into government or we're not.”

Speaking on the BBC's Nolan radio show, Mr Beattie said that if we’re not going to restore Stormont, then “the UK Government is going to have to outline what it's plan is”.

He added: “We could probably guess what its plan is, but they need to spell it out. What are they going to do in regard to Northern Ireland if we do not get a government up and running soon? We cannot continue to drift the way we are drifting."

In a later social media exchange, Mr Beattie said that direct rule from Westminster would require new legislation and “that won’t happen”.

He added: “I don’t want GB MPs making all the decisions that affect Northern Ireland,” he tweeted.

Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl said it is "embarrassing" that we don't have a government at Stormont 18 months into the mandate.

"Every day that goes by, the DUP need to reflect on their actions, and how they are severely impacting the people of Northern Ireland," she said.

Ms Nicholl said all of the issues of concern to the DUP, including the Windsor Framework, can be addressed "in parallel with a functioning executive”.

Following Mr Heaton-Harris’s “final phases” of negotiations comments last week, and this week’s speculation around an imminent return to powersharing, DUP MP Carla Lockhart said her party had no knowledge of what is going on behind the scenes at Stormont.

Ms Lockhart stressed that “significant gaps remain” between the government’s negotiating position and the DUP’s preconditions for a return to power-sharing.

“There is no solid basis for an Executive and Assembly until we have arrangements that restore Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market and our constitutional arrangements are respected,” she said.