Breaking – Martin McGuinness to step down as North’s Deputy First Minister

 

Martin McGuinness says he’s going to step down as the North’s Deputy First Minister.
His resignation is to be effective as of 5pm this evening.
Mr McGuinness says he has a binding obligation to uphold issues of equality and therefore it is with ‘deep regret and reluctance’ that he is resigning.
Sinn Féin will not nominate anyone to take over from him – effectively triggering an election in the North.
The statement follows the refusal by First Minister Arlene Foster to step down over the so-called ‘cash for ash’ political scandal.