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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Lisa O'Carroll Brexit correspondent

Northern Ireland election delay leads to claims region is UK-EU political football

European Union Chris HeatonHarris Heaton United Kingdom Football Jeffrey Donaldson James Cleverly Stormont
Stormont, Belfast.
Stormont, Belfast. Sources in London have suggested the foreign secretary, James Cleverly, is delaying the date to allow UK-EU talks to take off. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA

The Northern Ireland secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, has again deferred naming a date for fresh elections for the Stormont assembly amid accusations the region is being used as a political football.

In a statement after meeting party leaders, Heaton-Harris said he was concerned about the emergence of a “black hole” in the budget for Northern Ireland but did not name a date for the election.

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