Northern Ireland

Time for DUP’s delusion and delay tactics is over as Britain calls time on talks

There is a deal on the table and Donaldson must sell it to his party and pave a way for a return to devolution in Stormont

Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, at the launch of the party’s local government election manifesto last year. Picture: PA

After almost two years, the British government have called time on the talks with the DUP.

Before Christmas, the party appeared to be on the brink of returning to Stormont, but suddenly backtracked. Shortly afterwards, a clearly exasperated Chris Heaton-Harris, the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, stated categorically that the talks were over.

And with that, the DUP’s political cover was gone. They were exposed, the comfort blanket snatched away. Despite party leader Jeffrey ...