The British Government must not “subcontract” its role in restoring powersharing in Northern Ireland, the Democratic Unionists said.

Leader Arlene Foster said there was a part for independent mediation in helping break the 20-month impasse at Stormont.

She met Prime Minister Theresa May in London on Wednesday as the British Government explores convening fresh political talks.

Ulster powersharing
DUP leader Arlene Foster and deputy leader Nigel Dodds in London following a meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May and Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley to discuss the powersharing impasse (PA)

Mrs Foster said: “We believe there’s a role for facilitation but we also believe the British must not subcontract their role, because of course under the Belfast Agreement, until the people of Northern Ireland decided otherwise, the United Kingdom government is in charge of Northern Ireland.”

She held a “detailed” meeting with the Prime Minister about decision-making in Northern Ireland in the absence of a ministerial Executive in Belfast following serious disagreements between former coalition partners the DUP and Sinn Fein.

Powersharing collapsed early last year in a row over the DUP’s handling of a botched green energy scheme and the dispute over identity issues like the Irish language has seen repeated rounds of negotiations fail.

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley met the five main Stormont parties this week as she contemplates another push for agreement and is seeking their views about external facilitation.

Sinn Fein has been intensely critical of the British Government.

Independent mediators helped previous rounds of political progress in Northern Ireland, including brokering the Good Friday Agreement 20 years ago.

Mrs Foster said civil service decision-making should be quickly rolled out amid the political paralysis.

“There is a whole range of decisions that need to be taken in Northern Ireland very, very urgently and we want to see that happening quickly.”

Asked about talks, Mrs Foster said the “first thing we have to get set in motion” was putting in place decision-making.

Deputy leader Nigel Dodds said there must be a “full commitment to the continuing delivery of all the money that’s coming to Northern Ireland” under the confidence and supply arrangements.

Mrs Bradley is planning to cut Assembly members’ pay and will bring forward legislation giving greater clarity around civil servants’ powers to make decisions in the absence of a functioning Executive.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O’Neill met Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney in Dublin and said it was disgraceful an Executive was not in place.

She added: “The reason we have not had it is because of the British Government and their toxic relationship with the DUP.”

She said the British Government had prioritised the survival of the minority Government and its arrangement with the DUP.

“We have been fairly firm in the belief that all along their plan was to do nothing and now I am even more concerned because I believe their plan is to prevent the restoration of the Executive.”

Sinn Fein negotiator Conor Murphy asked: “What does the DUP have to fear from an independent facilitator?

“It’s clear the DUP is looking only for excuses to avoid meaningful political talks to get the Executive up and running.”