Northern Ireland is back under direct rule from London this morning after devolution was suspended at midnight in an effort to save the peace process.
Although the Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr John Reid, hopes the suspension will not run on and on, he has prepared for a lengthy period of direct rule.
His team of junior ministers at the Northern Ireland Office, Ms Jane Kennedy and Mr Des Browne, has been doubled with the inclusion of Ms Angela Smith and Ian Mr Pearson.
The duties of 10 devolved departmental ministers will be divided up among the Northern Ireland Office ministers, with an announcement of who does what expected before the day is out.
Dr Reid, is due to make a statement to the House of Commons today giving a detailed explanation why he decided on the suspension.
It is the fourth time the Stormont administration has been suspended. On the last two occasions it was a procedural 24-hour affair, but this time it will be much longer.
The move to suspend devolution came as pressure mounted on republicans to prove their commitment to a process of IRA disbandment.
Expressing regret at having to suspend the institutions, Dr Reid insisted last night the British government was determined to restore trust between the North's parties and bring back devolution.
"There are a number of reasons why there is a lack of trust there. There are suspicions on both sides," he said. "However, the one that no one can get away from, the one that is hitting us all in the face, is the ambiguity that people feel about republicans' attitude towards politics and violence".