The pay of Stormont Assembly members will be cut following MLAs’ failure to form an executive.
An election was held in May but the DUP has refused to nominate a candidate as Deputy First Minister because of their unhappiness with the Northern Ireland Protocol.
No executive can be formed without their participation and Chris Heaton-Harris, Northern Ireland’s Secretary of State, has said he is legally obliged to call an election.
2JXP1GR London, UK. 07th Sep, 2022. Chris Heaton-Harris, Northern Ireland Secretary arrives at a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street London. Credit: Ian Davidson/Alamy Live NewsOriginally, one was due to be held in December but Mr Heaton-Harris has introduced legislation that will delay it until 13 April at the latest.
The pay of MLAs will also be cut by £14,000 to £37,337.
MLAs’ pay was also cut in 2018 after Sinn Féin declined to nominate a candidate as Deputy First Minister.
Main image: Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast. Picture by Alamy.com
