Secretary of State calls off US trip to attend talks

Secretary of State James Brokenshire has cancelled a trip to Washington to focus on talks aimed at restoring the power-sharing institutions.

Mr Brokenshire had been scheduled to meet President Donald Trump, as part of the annual St Patrick's Day visit.

However he has decided to pull out of the trip to concentrate on helping Northern Ireland's political parties strike a deal.

If no agreement is reached by 27 March, another election could be called.

A senior UK government source told Press Association journalists that Mr Brokenshire had been due to fly to Washington on Wednesday.

However, he has decided that the ongoing talks at Stormont are at a "critical stage" and that is where his focus must be.

"He is just focused on getting the right result and getting an agreement by the 27th. The deadline is looming. He will have no other option by law but to call another election if there is no agreement by then," the source said.

Mr Brokenshire recently met the acting US ambassador to the UK, Lew Lukens, to discuss the situation at Stormont.

"The Secretary of State is encouraged by how seriously the Americans are taking this. He would love to go to Washington. Washington has always helped Northern Ireland. But now is not the right time and time is short," the source added.

Talks are due to resume again on Monday, in a bid to salvage power-sharing.

They have just over a fortnight to come to an agreement or there could be another snap election.

The 2 March election saw an end to the unionist majority at Stormont.

Sinn Féin moved within one seat of the DUP, eroding what had been a ten seat advantage.

Last week in a letter to all MPs Mr Brokenshire set out the consequences of the DUP and Sinn Féin failing to strike a deal.

"If no agreement is reached in the short window following the election, there would be a number of significant consequences.

"There would be no Executive, no real budget, no Programme for Government and risks to public services. Ultimately we would also be facing a second election with ongoing disruption and uncertainty for businesses and the people of Northern Ireland that would bring," he said in his letter.

However Mr Brokenshire added that he was "not contemplating any other outcome but a resumption of devolved government as soon as possible".