A fresh Stormont Assembly election will not take place in December, the Northern Ireland Secretary has announced. Chris Heaton-Harris said he will outline his next steps in Parliament next week. Mr Heaton-Harris is obliged to call an election within 12 weeks of October 28 when the deadline for the Northern Ireland parties to form a fresh executive ran out. He said he had listened to concerns about the impact and the cost of an election at this time.

A fresh Stormont Assembly election will not take place in December, the Northern Ireland Secretary has announced. Chris Heaton-Harris said he will outline his next steps in Parliament next week. Mr Heaton-Harris is obliged to call an election within 12 weeks of October 28 when the deadline for the Northern Ireland parties to form a fresh executive ran out. He said he had listened to concerns about the impact and the cost of an election at this time.