Sinn Féin warns Northern Ireland's devolved institutions are "in a precarious place" and says "the wheels are coming off Stormont" after meetings with newly appointed Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant. Conor Murphy accused the DUP of lacking the political will to make the executive work, while DUP leader Gavin Robinson rejected the criticism. Parties have urged Westminster for more funding to set a budget, and the Treasury has indicated a possible £400m package. Alliance leader Naomi Long cautioned the institutions could collapse without greater cooperation.
Sinn Féin Warns ‘Wheels Are Coming Off’ Stormont as Funding and Cooperation Tensions Rise
Conor Murphy said neither the British or Irish Government should coast along [PA Media]
Sinn Féin has warned that Northern Ireland's devolved institutions are in "a precarious place" and that "the wheels are coming off Stormont," following separate meetings between political parties and the newly appointed Secretary of State, Sir Chris Bryant.
Conor Murphy said Sinn Féin remains committed to power sharing but accused the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of lacking "the political will to make the executive work." He urged both the UK and Irish governments to engage urgently with all parties — including the DUP — to restore collaboration and cooperation across Stormont.
Gavin Robinson has spoken out in response to Murphy's comments [PA Media]
"The British government can't coast along, and neither can Dublin coast along in the hope that things will be better on the other side. They need to engage now. They need to engage with all of the parties. They need to engage with the DUP to ensure that they actually approach this in this world of collaboration and cooperation, rather than that which we have seen over the last number of years." — Conor Murphy
The DUP pushed back against Murphy's criticism. Leader Gavin Robinson rejected the accusation and insisted his party is focused on delivering for constituents, telling reporters Murphy "should tighten his nuts" in a colourful retort reported by the media. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly defended the DUP's conduct in government, saying the party continues to engage constructively rather than making public shows of frustration.
Alliance leader Naomi Long warned the institutions remain fragile and said that without greater flexibility and goodwill across parties, "we are going to struggle to make it to the next election." She added that it remains a possibility a major party could walk away, which could trigger a collapse of the institutions.
Stormont parties have called for increased funding from the government so they can set a budget [Getty Images]
Stormont parties have called on Westminster for increased funding to allow the Executive to set a functioning budget. The Treasury has indicated a potential £400m package intended to help balance departmental budgets as ministers and parties press for a settlement.
Sir Chris Bryant visited Northern Ireland for a series of engagements, including meetings with political leaders at Hillsborough Castle. The trip was his first since his appointment as Secretary of State following the recent Cabinet reshuffle.
What Comes Next
Party leaders and the new Secretary of State face a narrow window to rebuild trust and agree budgetary support. Without renewed engagement from the UK and Irish governments and a change in tone among Stormont parties, the risk of further instability at Stormont will remain elevated.
Help us improve.
