Bill 'election date control'

Stormont was dissolved at the end of last month

A draft copy of legislation to postpone Northern Ireland Assembly elections from the end of this month has been obtained by the BBC.

The planned legislation makes no reference to any new date but says a future date will be set by Secretary of State Paul Murphy.

The bill was necessary in order to postpone the assembly elections originally scheduled for 29 May.

Last week, Prime Minister Tony Blair said the IRA's point-blank refusal to rule out all paramilitary activities meant the postponement of the elections until the autumn was necessary.

The move came against a background of intense discussions by the British and Irish Governments over Sinn Fein assurances on the IRA's future intentions.

The governments have been continuing to talk to each other and the parties in an attempt to move the process forward.

The draft bill gives the Secretary of State the power to name a new date by using a parliamentary order, rather than the longer process of bringing new legislation to parliament.

It also deals with the salary levels of assembly members.

Although it does not specify what their pay will be while the power-sharing executive is suspended, it says they will be continue to be treated as MLAs until the next elections are held.

Expenses

The draft legislation also says that parties will be compensated for expenses incurred during the recent campaign.

I don't see the possibility of agreement and we are, therefore, going to have direct rule for perhaps another generation

Lord Kilclooney
Ulster Unionist

The bill to formally postpone the 29 May elections will be published by the government at Westminster on Friday and debated on Monday.

Meanwhile, a senior Ulster Unionist has warned Northern Ireland may be governed from Westminster for another generation.

Lord Kilclooney, the former Strangford MP John Taylor, said he could not see any agreement being reached that would lead to assembly elections in the autumn.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster on Thursday, Lord Kilclooney said he did not believe talks would lead to a breakthrough.

"I am a bit concerned that there will be no assembly after the autumn because of the stance of Sinn Fein/IRA and because the SDLP will not take a strong line against Sinn Fein," he said.

"Because of that, I don't see the possibility of agreement and we are, therefore, going to have direct rule for perhaps another generation."

In short, we have a unionist veto over progress

Pat Doherty
Sinn Fein Vice President

"Therefore, tragically, for those who have been MLAs working hard for their constituents - whether they are SDLP, unionist, DUP or whatever - they should now begin to look for alternative employment."

Sinn Fein Vice President Pat Doherty said Lord Kilclooney's remarks showed the unionists' strategy was to "avoid an assembly election and avoid a return to an inclusive assembly and executive".

"In short, we have a unionist veto over progress," said the West Tyrone MP.

"Last week Jeffrey Donaldson proclaimed that the joint declaration would not pass an Ulster Unionist Council meeting.

"This along with Mr Taylor's remarks have quite obviously let the unionist strategy out of the bag," he said.