British prime minister Tony Blair warned yesterday the March Assembly election and devolution to a new Executive would not go ahead unless Sinn Féin and the DUP committed themselves to support for policing and powersharing.
Mr Blair, who cut short his Florida holiday to deal with the building crisis, warned that both Gerry Adams and the Rev Ian Paisley had better stick to their commitments, otherwise there was little point in continuing the push for restoration of Stormont.
A statement issued by Downing Street yesterday said that if Sinn Féin actively backed the PSNI, courts and rule of law within the timeframe agreed in St Andrews last October, "then there should be devolution of policing and justice within that timeframe".
The statement said: "I have spoken intensively to the leaders of both the DUP and Sinn Féin over the past days. Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams have made their positions clear to me, on the two crucial issues of powersharing and support for policing, justice and the rule of law."
Mr Blair continued: "So let me set out my clear understanding of these positions.
"I need both leaders to agree to this understanding. Both parties have already publicly agreed to powersharing on the basis and timeframe set out at St Andrews.
"When there is delivery, there will be devolution.
"On the above basis the government is in a position to facilitate the timeframe set out in paragraph seven of the St Andrews Agreement, namely on or before May 2008."
He warned: "It is only on this basis and with this clarity that we can proceed to an election.
"I am confident that both parties want to see progress and will honour their commitments.
"But there is no point in proceeding unless there is such clarity."
Within two hours Mr Adams responded with the "clarity" sought by the prime minister.
The Sinn Féin president said: "We set out in clear and unequivocal terms the substance of the motion which we would put to the ardfheis and our intention to hold this before the end of January. We also set a very clear course forward and stated very plainly that we would be going to the party to ask it to support this motion . . .
"British prime minister Tony Blair's statement this morning accurately summarises the core of our ardfheis motion on policing."
Dr Paisley also responded using language interpreted by Downing Street as being of key significance.
"I welcome the prime minister's assessment," said the statement, which the British government read as an endorsement of the Blair view.
"Over the course of the last number of days I have made clear to the prime minister that upfront delivery is required from Sinn Féin on the issue of support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the courts and the rule of law," Dr Paisley said.
"The prime minister is well aware that we are willing to make progress on a level playing field when there is full support for, and co-operation with the police. The time for action from Sinn Féin is now."
SDLP leader Mark Durkan criticised the negotiating positions of both Sinn Féin and the DUP.
"The DUP have been obstructive on the devolution of justice, but that's no reason for Sinn Féin to stay off policing," he said.
"Gerry Adams already admitted that Sinn Féin will have to move on policing even if the DUP doesn't agree to devolution. So why not press ahead and hold the ardfheis now? Why give the DUP a veto on policing and an excuse to avoid powersharing? Why not instead call the DUP's bluff, sign up to policing and then challenge them to share power?"