Last working day for Northern Ireland Assembly

The last election was held in May 2016. Credit: Press Eye

Wednesday is the last working day of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

It will be dissolved at midnight as the run-up to the election begins, with the public set to have their say on 2 March.

The poll, less than a year after the last Assembly election, follows the collapse of the Stormont institutions over the botched RHI scheme, which stands to cost taxpayers millions.

Sinn Féin withdrew their deputy First Minister over the DUP’s handling of the scheme.

The party’s new NI leader Michelle O’Neill has said there can be “no return to the status quo” following the election.

It is expected that negotiations over a range of issues will take place before the power-sharing institutions can be reformed.

In the morning DUP leader Arlene Foster led most of her party's candidates onto the steps of Parliament Buildings.

Ms Foster insisted she will lead from the front during this election campaign.