Lord Trimble: Theresa May must stop 'pussyfooting around' and impose direct rule in Northern Ireland

The former Ulster Unionist Party leader said the current political impasse over attempts to restore power-sharing at Stormont was "unsustainable".

Northern Ireland has been without a functioning legislature for more than a year after the DUP/ Sinn Fein collapsed.

Negotiations aimed at restoring devolution have failed, primarily over Sinn Fein demands for the introduction of an Irish Language Act.

Theresa May flew to Belfast on Monday for the first time since the crisis began, but her attempts to broker a deal failed when DUP leader Arlene Foster pulled the plug on the latest round of talks.

Sinn Fein last night accused their erstwhile political partners of reneging on a deal to resume power-sharing - claims denied by the DUP.

Lord Trimble said the UK government had no option but to bring back direct rule of Northern Ireland to Westminster.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "I would prefer to see full-blown direct rule. The present situation cannot last much longer. The Secretary of State is pretending not to run things but in fact is doing so without a statutory basis. The present situation is not sustainable. 

"It would clarify the situation and mean that the Government could speak more effectively to Dublin and Brussels on these issues. The Government should stop pussy-footing around and be prepared to say boo to Sinn Fein. Direct rule will end the moment they say they are going to step up to the plate."

But Lord Bew, who helped to draw up the Good Friday Agreement more than 20 years ago with Lord Trimble, said: "If we went to direct rule we would undermine the implicit compromise which has been reached with the EU."

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