Tuesday vote will decide the future of NI Assembly

The election of a First and Deputy First Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly has been postponed until Tuesday November 6.

On Monday a DUP legal action was dismissed against Secretary of State Dr Reid’s decision not to call fresh elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly following last week’s unsuccessful attempt to elect Mr Trimble and Mark Durkan, as First and Deputy First Minister by Saturday midnight.

In the DUP legal bid, the party was seeking a declaration that any purported elections of a First Minister and Deputy First Minister after midnight on Saturday were “unlawful and without force of legal effect.”

Speaking after the ruling on Monday Mr Trimble said: “The basic point is that rather than engage with the issue seriously, the DUP are there playing games, pulling stunts, engaging in personal remarks rather than trying to improve the situation in this society.”

Meanwhile in the assembly a debate on the re-designation of Alliance assembly members as unionists took place on Monday afternoon. The change in the Alliance party allegiance, alongside the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition redesignation has the potential to ensure the reinstallation of David Trimble as First Minister.

Speaking on Saturday the Secretary said: “Since the Assembly’s unsuccessful attempt to elect a First and Deputy First Minister on Friday, I and others have been engaged in intensive discussions to try and find a solution to the present difficulties.

“To address these and other concerns, I intend that a review should now be convened as soon as possible, as provided in Strand One of the Belfast Agreement.

“I warmly welcome the decision by the Alliance Party to re-designate their members within the Assembly so that a First and Deputy First Minister can be elected and the review carried out. It is a brave decision which they have taken in the interests of a much wider process.” (AMcE)