Prime Minister Theresa May said now is not the time for a border poll, or a vote on Scottish referendum, after Sinn Féin and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon respectively called for referendums ahead of the commencement of the formal Brexit process. Mrs May said: “What we should all be focusing on is bringing the parties together to ensure that we can continue to see the devolved administration in Northern Ireland working in the interests of the people.” Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill said Breixt would be “a disaster for the people of Ireland”. DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said a poll would be “divisive”.

The Irish government announced that a referendum is to take place on whether to allow Irish citizens outside the Republic, including those living in Northern Ireland, to vote in future presidential elections. The vote is expected to occur later this year; if it passes, it would come into effect for the election after that scheduled for 2018. Announcing the plans, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it was a “clear recognition of the importance that Ireland attached to her citizens wherever they were”.

The UK government stressed that maintaining political stability in Northern Ireland is its responsibility. On a visit to America this week as part of St Patrick’s Daly celebrations, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny indicated he had agreed with Prime Minister Theresa May there will not be a return to direct rule from Westminster. A UK government spokesperson said Downing Street wants to see an Executive restored within the three-week post-election timeframe, stating “we are not speculating on any other outcome.”

Outgoing UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said his decision to grant a nationalist his second-preference vote in this month’s Assembly election did not “hurt” his party. Going into the election, the party held 16 of 108 Assembly seats; this dropped to 10 in a smaller 9-seat chamber. Mr Nesbitt’s decision was criticised by some members of his own party; now former MLA Jo-Anne Dobson told The Belfast Telegraph she blamed him for losing her seat. Mr Nesbitt described his decision as “a small gesture”, and said reaction to the move was largely “positive”.

Chancellor Philip Hammond announced a u-turn on the government’s Budget proposal to raise National Insurance Contributions for some self-employed workers, following a backlash from Conservative Party colleagues who saw it as breaking a 2015 manifesto pledge. In a letter to The Sun newspaper, Mr Hammond wrote: “Trust matters in politics. And this Conservative government sets great store in the faith and trust of the British people.”