{"id":1243583,"date":"2022-11-04T10:07:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-04T10:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/11\/04\/ni-election-uncertainty-an-early-christmas-present-but-what-happens-now\/"},"modified":"2022-11-04T10:07:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T10:07:00","slug":"ni-election-uncertainty-an-early-christmas-present-but-what-happens-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/11\/04\/ni-election-uncertainty-an-early-christmas-present-but-what-happens-now\/","title":{"rendered":"NI election uncertainty: An early Christmas present but what happens now?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_106 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_106\">\n<style><![CDATA[\n\n\/* inline tdc_css att *\/\n\n\/* phone *\/\n@media (max-width: 767px)\n{\n.tdi_106{\nmargin-bottom:20px !important;\n}\n}\n\n]]><\/style>\n<style><![CDATA[\n\/* 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 font-family:Roboto !important;font-size:20px !important;line-height:1 !important;font-style:normal !important;\n\t\t        }.tdi_108 .wp-caption-text,\n\t\t\t\t.tdi_108 figcaption{\n\t\t\t        font-family:Roboto !important;font-size:11px !important;line-height:1.2 !important;font-style:normal !important;\n\t\t        }\n}\n]]><\/style>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"ssrcss-vk3nhx-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-wpgbih-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<p><span class=\"ssrcss-11kpz0x-Placeholder e16icw910\"\/><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tvuve5-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\">ANDY RAIN\/EPA-EFE\/REX\/Shutterstoc<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1bdte2-BylineComponentWrapper e8mq1e90\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-w2885d-BylineWrapper e8mq1e916\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1dtr1ls-Container-ContributorDetails e8mq1e913\">\n<p>By Enda McClafferty<\/p>\n<p>BBC News NI political editor<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\"><b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">You can almost feel the collective sigh of relief.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The decision by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris to scrap his December election plan is an early Christmas present for Stormont parties.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">They dreaded the prospect of going to the polls 10 days before Christmas in an election which was only ever going to deepen the political crisis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">But while welcome, the U-turn by Mr Heaton Harris has damaged his credibility.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">It has also raised questions about how it was managed by the Northern Ireland Office.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The early morning statement fulfilled his pledge to provide certainty this week, but means he cannot be questioned about his humiliating climbdown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">We cannot ask why he did not act sooner, knowing an election was pointless.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">His insistence that he had a legal obligation to call a poll didn\u2019t cut it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">We have a long history of Northern Ireland secretary of states who dug in before being forced to change the law to remove a deadline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Just a day ago, his fellow minister Steve Baker told MPs an election was coming and it was just a matter of picking a date.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Not a wise move on the eve of a climb down.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The threat of a December election has been lifted but Mr Heaton-Harris has not removed the option from the table.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">To fulfil his legal obligation, he has to call an election by 19 January.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">That must happen by 8 December.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">But is Mr Heaton-Harris really going to ask politicians to canvass over Christmas?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">And if he does, many of the election deadlines for postal and proxy votes would fall on Christmas week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The intervention of the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week to prevented an election being called is also telling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"ssrcss-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-wpgbih-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-cptm83-Placeholder e16icw910\"><span><\/p>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bottom banner\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/_123891292_uk_election_2022_banner_bottom_640x2-nc.png\" width=\"1024\" height=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\"\/><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 id=\"Read-more-Stormont-crisis-explained-\" class=\"ssrcss-y2fd7s-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\"><span role=\"text\">Read more: Stormont crisis explained <\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"unordered-list-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1o5f7ft-BulletListContainer e5tfeyi0\">\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li>What are chances of a U-turn over Stormont poll?<\/li>\n<li>Q&amp;A: Is Northern Ireland going back to the polls?<\/li>\n<li>Who is NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris?<\/li>\n<li>A simple guide to the Northern Ireland Protocol<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"ssrcss-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-wpgbih-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-cptm83-Placeholder e16icw910\"><span><\/p>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bottom banner\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/_123891292_uk_election_2022_banner_bottom_640x2-nc.png\" width=\"1024\" height=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\"\/><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">It exposed a lack of judgement at the Northern Ireland Office on such a big call.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Being overruled by your boss at the eleventh hour is not a good look.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">But you also could not rule out it was all part of a strategy to help the secretary of state to get off a hook <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">As the 6,000 electoral staff are stood down on Friday morning and the politicians put their posters away for now, Mr Heaton-Harris said he will set out his next steps next week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"links-block\" class=\"ssrcss-5i1hhv-LinksComponentWrapper e3eyuya0\">\n<section class=\"ssrcss-msolhr-LinksWrapper e3eyuya5\">\n<p><h2 class=\"ssrcss-q4zz1q-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\">More on this story<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-10bv2vf-EndOfContentLinksGrid e3eyuya2\">\n<li class=\"ssrcss-547yr3-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nxco0v-Promo ett16tt0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-a0724v-PromoSwitchLayoutAtBreakpoints e3z3r3u0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-xekq2n-PromoContent e1f5wbog7\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-17zglt8-PromoHeadline e1f5wbog4\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">No Christmas election for Northern Ireland<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-z60stg-PromoImageContainer ehnfhlg4\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17h6w1t-PromoImageContainerInner ehnfhlg2\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-fec6qv-ImageWrapper ehnfhlg3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-11kpz0x-Placeholder e16icw910\"><span><\/p>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Santa Claus walking towards Parliament Buildings at Stormont\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/_127515000_gettyimages-1189027359-1.jpg\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\"\/><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-547yr3-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nxco0v-Promo ett16tt0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-a0724v-PromoSwitchLayoutAtBreakpoints e3z3r3u0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-xekq2n-PromoContent e1f5wbog7\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-17zglt8-PromoHeadline e1f5wbog4\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Q&amp;A: Is Northern Ireland going back to the polls?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-z60stg-PromoImageContainer ehnfhlg4\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17h6w1t-PromoImageContainerInner ehnfhlg2\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-fec6qv-ImageWrapper ehnfhlg3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-11kpz0x-Placeholder e16icw910\"><span><\/p>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Election\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/_127288880_gettyimages-1180591245.jpg\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\"\/><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-547yr3-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nxco0v-Promo ett16tt0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-a0724v-PromoSwitchLayoutAtBreakpoints e3z3r3u0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-xekq2n-PromoContent e1f5wbog7\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-17zglt8-PromoHeadline e1f5wbog4\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Who is NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-z60stg-PromoImageContainer ehnfhlg4\">\n<div 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width=\"500\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_post_share tdi_118 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_118\">\n<style><![CDATA[\n\n\/* inline tdc_css att *\/\n\n.tdi_118{\nmargin-top:30px !important;\nmargin-bottom:30px !important;\n}\n\n]]><\/style>\n<style><![CDATA[\n\/* custom css *\/\n.tdi_118 .td-post-sharing,\n\t\t\t\t.tdi_118 .tdb-share-classic{\n\t\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\t}\n]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#13; &#13; &#13; ANDY RAIN\/EPA-EFE\/REX\/Shutterstoc By Enda McClafferty BBC News NI political editor You can almost feel the collective sigh of relief. The decision by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris to scrap his December election plan is an early Christmas present for Stormont parties. They dreaded the prospect of going to the polls 10 days [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1243585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1243583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1243583","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1243583"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1243583\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1243583"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1243583"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1243583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}