Martin McGuinness resigned as Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister on Monday, citing First Minister Arlene Foster’s response to the RHI issue among other reasons; he said “Today is the right time to call a halt to the DUP’s arrogance.” Under power-sharing rules, Mr McGuinness’ resignation means Mrs Foster also loses her office. Sinn Féin is allowed seven days to nominate a replacement, but ahead of Monday’s meeting of the Assembly, the party seems set on forcing an election having already held numerous candidate selection conventions.

Responding to Mr McGuinness’ resignation, outgoing First Minister Arlene Foster warned Northern Ireland faces a brutal election and a return to Westminster direct rule. Mrs Foster said she would be willing to enter talks with Sinn Féin to avert an election. She said “I think what the people of Northern Ireland want is stability but that has all been thrown into very sharp relief yesterday by the actions of Sinn Féin for hugely party political reasons and not for any other reason.”

Northern Ireland Secretary of State James Brokenshire told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show he is not contemplating any alternatives to devolved government. The Secretary of State is legally obliged to call an election if there is no resolution to the situation by 5pm on Monday. He also said an election would not prevent Northern Ireland having a political input into the upcoming Brexit negotiation process.

Sinn Féin MLAs tabled a motion of no confidence in the Speaker of the Assembly, DUP MLA Robin Newton, and have called on him to resign. Last month MLAs criticised the Speaker’s decision to allow the First Minister to make a statement in the Assembly without the support of the deputy First Minister. Mr Newton has moved to defend himself against allegations of party political motivation, writing to all MLAs to explain why he allowed Mrs Foster to make this statement. The motion will be put to the Assembly on Monday.

Westminster’s Northern Ireland Affairs select committee heard that dairy farms here will “go out of business” after Brexit if barriers to trade with the Republic of Ireland are created. MPs were told risks surround the potential loss of exports to the supermarkets in the Republic of Ireland, and loss of global business in cross-border production of products. Mike Johnston, Northern Ireland director for Dairy UK, said “This goes beyond hard or soft border… If we cannot overcome issues around labelling, traceability, common standards, then that business north and south would grind to a halt.”