Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“The Secretary of State can have all the meetings she wants but the truth is that she is continuing to ignore the reality of why Northern Ireland is currently in a state of political deadlock.
“Unless or until the cancer at the heart of our politics – mandatory coalition – is faced up to and addressed that will continue to be the case.
“You cannot have a system which can be held to ransom by a party which doesn’t even believe Northern Ireland should exist and expect stable government here. No amount of talks will change that reality.
“If devolution is not achievable on a democratic basis where those who can agree go into government together while those who cannot form an opposition and offer an alternative government for people to vote for at the next election then the solution is to bring in government from our sovereign parliament, Westminster.
“The general public in Northern Ireland are long past the point where they demand action and an end to the farce of having an Assembly which cannot meet.
“Even if a deal was cobbled together tomorrow it would just be a waiting game until the house of cards collapsed again.”