An election to the Northern Ireland Assembly will 'definitely happen' after a deadline to restore devolved government at Stormont was missed, a cabinet minister has said.Environment minister Therese Coffey said 'clearly' there was not 'sufficient agreement' among Stormont parties to avoid a fresh election.Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris is expected to call the election on Friday, following the failure of a last-ditch effort to restore the multi-party executive.The DUP is blocking

An election to the Northern Ireland Assembly will 'definitely happen' after a deadline to restore devolved government at Stormont was missed, a cabinet minister has said.Environment minister Therese Coffey said 'clearly' there was not 'sufficient agreement' among Stormont parties to avoid a fresh election.Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris is expected to call the election on Friday, following the failure of a last-ditch effort to restore the multi-party executive.The DUP is blocking the restoration of powersharing as part of its protest against the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol.A six-month legislative timeframe to form an administration expired in the early hours of Friday.