British prime minister Gordon Brown will fly into Belfast tomorrow in a bid to resolve the deepening wrangle at Stormont over the devolution of policing powers.
With relations between Democratic Unionist First Minister Peter Robinson and Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness having deteriorating rapidly in recent weeks over the contentious issue, Mr Brown’s visit is being seen as an attempt by No 10 to heal the rift and inject new impetus toward an agreement.
He will meet for face-to-face talks with the two leaders at Stormont Castle in an effort to hammer out a deal on what is viewed as the last piece of the peace process jigsaw.
While the two main parties in the powersharing executive both support the transfer of law and order responsibilities from Westminster, they are at loggerheads over the timing of the move.
Sinn Féin claims it should have happened months ago, but the DUP says it will not approve devolution until the UK Treasury stumps up an appropriate cash package - thought to be in the region of £600 million — to support the region’s new justice department.
Though the republican party acknowledges funding is important, it believes Mr Robinson is using it as an excuse to delay the transfer in the face of resistance from hard-line elements within his ranks.
Senior Sinn Féin figures also believe the DUP is wary of the electoral impact of the move, given the vocal opposition to devolution from the anti-agreement Traditional Unionist Voice party.
The First Minister has insisted that, aside from money, there also needs to be sufficient confidence within the unionist community before he will give the go ahead.
Nevertheless, the issue of funding is seen as the main key to a deal and is sure to dominate talks between Mr Brown and the Stormont leaders tomorrow.
PA