NI Assembly election to be called but no date set

The Northern Ireland secretary has said he will call an assembly election but has not set any date for it.

Chris Heaton-Harris said he would give more information next week and would be meeting the parties in the meantime.

Devolved government in NI has not functioned since an election in May.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) blocked the restoration of power-sharing in its protest against the post-Brexit trading arrangements called the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Legislation says that an election must be held within 12 weeks.

However, Mr Heaton-Harris denied he had made a u-turn, saying an election did not have to be called immediately.