UK to further delay calling Northern Ireland election as Brexit talks continue

Stormont has been in deadlock since last February when the DUP withdrew support for the executive and later refused to return to power sharing after elections last May. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA

The UK government is to further delay calling an election in Northern Ireland to give Brexit talks a chance.

Senior EU sources said “slow progress” was being made in talks between the UK and Brussels, dampening hopes of a breakthrough by the end of January on the protracted dispute over the Northern Ireland protocol.