Northern Ireland talks: UK government push back deadline for another Assembly election as momentum drains from discussions

The Government has moved to once again push back the deadline for a Northern Ireland Assembly election amid continued deadlock in talks to re-establish devolution.

Momentum has drained from the latest talks process, established in the wake of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee by dissident republicans in April, and a breakthrough is thought unlikely during the summer marching season.

Legislation tabled in the House of Commons by Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley will extend to 21 October the date by which she has a legal duty to call an election. The legislation also gives her the power to put back the deadline - which had already been delayed from March this year to the end of August - one more time, until 13 January next year, if sufficient progress is not achieved by the autumn.

The move will allow for a new executive to be established at any time without further legislation, and permits Ms Bradley to call an election at any point if agreement is reached on the restoration of power-sharing.

Ms Bradley described the legislation as "a sensible contingency plan which keeps all options open and ensures effective governance for Northern Ireland in the light of continuing uncertainty".

And she added: “The restoration of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland over the coming weeks is my number one priority. I continue to believe a deal is achievable in the weeks ahead and I will do everything I can to make that happen. At the same time it is my responsibility to plan for all scenarios and to ensure there are effective contingency measures in place."

The move comes amid controversy over abortion laws in Northern Ireland, after a UK government minister suggested that Westminster could intervene in the devolved matter.

Women and equalities minister Penny Mordaunt said either the government or the Westminster parliament could act in response to a court ruling expected shortly on whether the “appalling” ban on most abortions is incompatible with individual human rights.

But the Democratic Unionist Party insists abortion must remain a matter for the suspended assembly to decide, and both candidates for the Conservative leadership - Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt - have said the issue should remain a matter for the Northern Ireland authorities.

The last DUP/Sinn Fein-led powersharing coalition imploded in January 2017 when the late Martin McGuinness quit as deputy first minister amid a row about a botched green energy scheme.

Efforts to restore the devolved institutions over the following two and a half years have been bogged down in rows over Irih language protections and the ban on same-sex marriage.

It is understood a cross-party group of MPs is considering an amendment to Ms Bradley's legislation to compel the UK government to extend rights to same-sex marriage to the region.

On Wednesday, Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy claimed the pace of talks has gone into "go-slow" mode ahead of the annual July 12 parades across Northern Ireland celebrated by unionists and loyalists.

But DUP MP Gavin Robinson hit back, accusing Sinn Fein of "making excuses" and of a "lack of engagement" in the talks.

Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said he has been "working intensively" with Ms Bradley to support the political parties in finding an agreement that will get all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement up and running again.

"We have today seen the introduction by the British Government of an amendment to UK legislation to extend the period for calling an Assembly election," he said.

"This step underlines the seriousness of the absence of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, and the urgent requirement for an agreement between the political parties on operating the institutions again.

"The two largest parties have a particular responsibility to reach an accommodation to secure the formation of a new power-sharing executive.”