Calls for fresh elections to end Northern Ireland crisis
January 11, 2017
Amid a growing political crisis, the Sinn Fein party has warned that there will be "no return to direct rule." The British Prime Minister Theresa May has urged parties to end the crisis ahead of "Brexit" negotiations.
Image: picture-alliance/empics/L. McBurney
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Northern Ireland's republican Sinn Fein party on Wednesday called for an election of the province's devolved assembly after the resignation of Martin McGuiness as deputy first minister prompted a political crisis.
After meeting with British state secretary for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, Sinn Fein member of assembly Michelle O'Neill warned that the people "must be allowed to have their say."
"We made it clear that we would not be re-nominating for the post of deputy first minister and told him he should call an election at the earliest possible opportunity," O'Neill said.
"We told him that there would be no return to the status quo and no return to direct rule. The crisis of confidence in the institutions has gone way beyond the RHI scandal," she added.
McGuiness resigned on Monday after Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster, representing the Democratic Unionist Party, failed to resign amid an investigation of a botched energy scheme called the Renewal Heat Incentive (RHI).
The energy scheme, developed by Foster when she served as the region's enterprise minister, could cost taxpayers up to 500 million British pounds ($605 million, 577 million euros).
Under rules established in 1998 to end decades of sectarian violence, Foster is effectively unable to carry out most of her functions without a deputy to work with her.
'Progress in jeopardy'
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament in London on Wednesday that the parties included in a power-sharing deal need to do more to end the political crisis.
"The progress that has been made in Northern Ireland has been hard-won and we must all recognize that we don't want to put that progress in jeopardy,"
"That is why I think it is so important for the government and for all parties to work as hard as we can to see a resolution to this issue so we can see a return to the power-sharing institution," she added.
The political crisis comes at a time when the British government prepares to launch negotiations to exit the EU by triggering Article 50.
Bye-bye, UK! We're leaving…
British businesses had repeatedly warned about the potential negative economic consequences from Brexit. And following the British vote to leave the EU, some firms are now considering relocating their operations.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/W. Kumm
Vodafone
The second-biggest mobile telephone company in the world is considering the possibility of moving its headquarters out of the UK following Brexit. Should Vodafone decide to relocate, Düsseldorf could emerge as a top contender to host the head office. Vodafone already has a presence in the German city, where it employs about 5,000 people. Moreover, Germany is the company's largest market.
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Ryanair
Europe's biggest low-cost airline is officially based in Ireland, but a substantial portion of its fleet has so far been stationed in the UK. However, it is all set to change now, with Ryanair announcing that it would no longer station its aircraft there. The carrier also said it would no longer operate flights out of the UK.
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Easyjet
Europe's second-largest low-cost airline is based in London. But for how long? "That remains to be seen," said CEO Carolyn McCall during a TV interview this week. Easyjet is one of Europe's most profitable companies.
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Virgin
Richard Branson is one of UK's most renowned business personalities. With regard to Brexit, he said: "Britain is heading for an economic disaster." His Virgin conglomerate has lost a third of its value since the British EU referendum vote. Brandon has urged the government to call a second EU referendum.
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JPMorgan Chase
The biggest US bank employs 16,000 people in London. It is now mulling over plans to relocate a part of its British-based operations out of the UK. CEO Jamie Dimon had said prior to the referendum that between 1,000 and 4,000 jobs could be moved out of the City in the event of a Brexit.
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Visa
The credit card company will probably have little choice but to downsize its activities in the UK, leading to the slashing of hundreds of jobs. According to EU guidelines, the company must maintain a data center in an EU country. And that is likely to mean an end to the company's data center in London.
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Ford
Ford has repeatedly said the UK is a "key market" for the company in Europe. Ford's plant in Dagenham also supplies parts and engines to the firm's production sites in Germany. After the British decision to leave the EU, the company said it would take all necessary measures to remain competitive on the market.
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Jaguar Land Rover
Not all companies are pessimistic, however. "We are British and we stand by the UK," says Adrian Hallmark, strategy chief at Jaguar Land Rover. There have been no changes in our business plans, Hallmark assured, while the UK remains a full member of the EU at least for the next two years.
