The British government was urged today to choose between progress or more political stagnation under the Belfast Agreement in Northern Ireland.
Democratic Unionist deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson asked ministers to "end the drift" in Northern Ireland's peace process by setting a firm date for Assembly elections, leading to talks on a new settlement.
The East Belfast MP said the British government needed to call an early election, accepting the verdict of the electorate and allowing negotiations to take place afterwards.
He said: "The decision to postpone the election in May was a mistake which has not even served the agenda of the Government.
"It was done to assist the Ulster Unionist Party but, as has been demonstrated since, the UUP may be beyond saving.
"Only elections can provide a mandate for negotiations and only those who can command the support of their communities can do a deal which will stick."
Devolution has been suspended since last October in Northern Ireland after the discovery of an alleged IRA spy ring.
The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern called on the IRA to move definitively towards an ending of all paramilitary activity.
Downing St called off Assembly elections scheduled for May 29th when it felt two statements from the Provisionals were not clear enough.
Hopes of an autumn election appear to be receding with many politicians believing the feud within the UUP will have to be settled first before a date is set.
Mr Robinson called on the British government to "face up to the reality" that the Belfast Agreement could not be saved because a "substantial majority" of unionists opposed it.
He reminded ministers that the power sharing institutions established under the accord could also not function without unionist support.
He said that Mr Blair would have to accept that politicians needed a mandate to negotiate a workable deal and that the Ulster Unionist Party was incapable of delivering.
The former Stormont Regional Development minister said: "It is time for the Government to move away from the position that an election will only go ahead if an administration can be formed immediately afterwards."
"This is a recipe for gridlock.
"It will not deliver stable government and merely gives a veto to an Ulster Unionist Party which is in complete disarray.
"An Assembly election will offer a mandate for negotiations and offer a forum from which to nominate negotiators. This at least would offer a positive way forward and out of the present impasse."
He said it was time for the British government to focus on what would deliver progress.
Mr Robinson said: "The government can either bury its head or face reality. "One road leads to political stagnation. The other offers the hope of a way forward."