Chris Heaton-Harris has been reappointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by Britain’s new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Mr Heaton-Harris was appointed to the position by Liz Truss last month, having previously served as Boris Johnson’s Chief Whip over the summer of 2022.
The Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP @chhcalling has been re-appointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland @NIOgov. #Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/STxozLpQ4W
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 25, 2022
As Secretary of State, Mr Heaton-Harris has said he plans to call a Stormont election if power sharing is not back up and running by Friday.
Speaking to the BBC last week, he said a fresh poll would be a “down payment for democracy" and said elections are "never a waste of time and money".
He has also promised to consider cutting the salaries of MLAs if no executive is formed.
"I'm minded to look at that if the executive isn't reformed and we go into the election,” he said.
"I promise you I will say more in good time - I don't think that's a threat, I have the option to do it and I'll be looking at that."
Main image: Chris Heaton-Harris, Northern Ireland Secretary arrives at a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street London. Picture by: Ian Davidson/Alamy Live News
