Northern Ireland likely to face another election by Christmas, MPs told

The devolved government has not fully functioned since February, with the DUP boycotting Stormont over the NI protocol. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

Northern Ireland will face assembly elections before Christmas unless power-sharing is restored in the next 10 days, the government has confirmed.

Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland secretary, hinted at an 8 or 15 December polling day during evidence at a House of Commons select committee. It would be the second election for Northern Ireland this year.