Stormont power-sharing tensions deepened as Sinn Féin warned the institutions are in a precarious place after party leaders met new Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant.
Stormont power-sharing tensions sharpened on Friday as Sinn Féin warned that the Northern Ireland Executive is in a precarious place and said the wheels are coming off Stormont. The warning came after the region’s political parties met Sir Chris Bryant during his first visit to Northern Ireland as secretary of state.
Conor Murphy said Sinn Féin remains committed to power sharing, but he accused the Democratic Unionist Party of showing no political will to make the executive work. His comments came as all of the parties continued pressing for more money from the government so they can set a budget and keep the devolved administration functioning.
Murphy urged the British government and Dublin not to stand back and wait for better conditions later. He said they need to engage now, including with the DUP, and push for collaboration and cooperation rather than the approach he said has marked recent years. The message was clear: without more active political engagement, the institutions remain exposed.
The DUP pushed back sharply. Party leader Gavin Robinson said Murphy should tighten his nuts and insisted his party is interested in delivering for the people of Northern Ireland. He said he and his colleagues are committed not only to the institutions but also to serving the public they represent. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly also defended the party’s record in government, saying the DUP does not throw a tantrum when it does not get its way and instead keeps turning up and pressing ahead.
“Stormont power-sharing tensions deepened as Sinn Féin warned the institutions are in a precarious place after party leaders met new Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant.”
Alliance leader Naomi Long struck a more cautious note, saying the system needs more flexibility and goodwill if it is to survive the months ahead. She said the institutions have always been in a precarious position and warned that it is possible they could collapse because either of the two big parties can walk away. Her advice was for all sides to take a step back, steady themselves and concentrate on what can be delivered over the next 10 months.
Sir Chris’s meetings at Hillsborough Castle marked a significant early outing for the new secretary of state, who took office after Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Cabinet reshuffle earlier this month. His visit comes at a moment when funding, trust and political co-operation are all under pressure, with the executive still needing agreement on a budget and support from London and Dublin alike.
That is why the latest Stormont power-sharing warnings matter far beyond Northern Ireland’s party row: if the institutions weaken further, ordinary people could feel the strain in how their government functions and whether it can deliver basic decisions at all.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Sinn Féin say Stormont is in danger?
Conor Murphy said the Northern Ireland Executive is in a precarious place and that the “wheels are coming off Stormont.” He said the institutions need more active political engagement to avoid further weakening.
What did Conor Murphy want the British government and Dublin to do?
He urged both governments not to stand back and wait for better conditions later. He said they should engage now, including with the DUP, and push for collaboration and cooperation.
How did the DUP respond to the criticism?
Gavin Robinson pushed back and said Murphy should “tighten his nuts,” adding that the DUP is interested in delivering for the people of Northern Ireland. Emma Little-Pengelly also defended the party’s record in government.
What concern did Alliance leader Naomi Long raise?
She said the system needs more flexibility and goodwill to survive the coming months. Long warned that either of the two big parties could walk away, which could cause the institutions to collapse.
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