Still No NI Election Date As UK, EU Seek Continuation Of Work On Protocol

UK Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker has stated that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Christ Heaton-Harris will set a date for the snap Stormont election 'soon'. This is despite the belief among observers that neither Westminster nor Brussels wants a divisive election campaign amid efforts to reach a deal on the Northern Ireland protocol.

• After the power-sharing executive failed to be formed by the deadline of 28 October, Heaton-Harris is obliged to call a snap election. The legislation requires a vote to take place within 12 weeks.
• Yesterday, Heaton-Harris spoke of a 'black hole' in the Northern Ireland Executive's budget, rather than the prospect of an election. This has led to speculation that the UK gov't could seek to change the law to avoid a snap vote.
• Lisa O'Carroll at The Guardian: "Looks as if election date in NI, or even election, delayed to allow protocol talks a chance "We don't believe an election at this time is a good thing for NI," said [Irish Foreign Minister] Simon Coveney today..."
• Enda McClafferty at the BBC: "It feels like Chris Heaton-Harris is now preparing the ground for his budget bill [...]Might he use that legislative move to tag on an amendment to make the prospect of a poll go away? [...] we are told the new Downing Street administration has a preference to let the UK-EU protocol negotiations run their course without the disruption of an election."