As delays in forming an Executive in Northern Ireland continue, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has said everyone knows what Plan B is – and no one wants it.

The UK Government yesterday increased the financial package aimed at restoring Northern Ireland’s political institutions to €3.8 billion and said it is time for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to “make a decision”. 

The DUP said it will not make a decision on nominating Ministers to the Executive until after the Christmas holidays. 

Northern Ireland has been without a government since May 2022, when Sinn Féin won the most seats.

UUP Leader Doug Beattie said if the DUP don’t return to Stormont soon, there will be deeper repercussions for Northern Ireland. 

“Plan B is laid out pretty well as it is,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“There is the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, and it's clear in legislation that if there's no devolved institutions that devolve matters fall to the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference to look at them. 

“We all know where we're where we're going, but I don't want to go that way. 

“I don't want somebody else making decisions for Northern Ireland.” 

Returning to Stormont

Mr Beattie said DUP Leader Jeffrey Donaldson wants to return, but it’s “fair” to question whether the DUP will ever agree to return to the Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont.

“They have a problem within their party and they're going to have to deal with that,” he said. 

“They may make a decision that actually staying out is better for them and then that’s what they’ll do. 

“It’s bad for Northern Ireland and it’s bad for unionism to stay out of devolved institutions - we should have been back in 20 months ago, providing for the people of Northern Ireland. 

“I simply don’t know what’s in their mindset.” 

Another general election

He also noted another election “wouldn’t fix anything whatsoever”. 

“If you have another election, and the DUP becomes the largest party above Sinn Féin, then Sinn Féin wouldn’t go back to government,” he said. 

“They would literally say, ‘Well, they didn't adhere to the mandate of our election’.” 

Mr Beattie said Northern Ireland must simply “adhere to the mandate of democracy” and return to Stormont soon.

The Northern Irish Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said yesterday that talks with the DUP over post-Brexit trading has ended and it is time to restore devolved government in Stormont.