A new Northern Ireland Assembly election will not take place in December, the Northern Ireland Secretary has announced.
Mr Heaton-Harris is obliged to call an election within 12 weeks of October 28th.
Brian Lawless
The deadline for Northern Ireland executive parties expired on October 28th, and Mr Heaton-Harris is obliged to call an election within 12 weeks of this date.
Concerns about the cost and impact an election may have at this time are cited as key reasons behind the delay.
“I can now confirm that no Assembly election will take place in December, or ahead of the festive season,” he said in a statement on Friday morning.
“Current legislation requires me to name a date for an election to take place within 12 weeks of October 28 and next week I will make a statement in Parliament to lay out my next steps.”
He added: “My objective, what the people of Northern Ireland deserve, is the restoration of a strong, devolved government.
“My duty is to create the right environment for the parties in Northern Ireland to work together to restore the devolved institutions and deliver on crucial issues impacting Northern Ireland’s people.
“I do not take this duty lightly, nor do I overlook the very real concerns people have around their cost of living.”