UNIONISTS were last night challenged by Michelle O'Neill to accept the "democratic outcome of the election" as Stormont's leaders clashed in the final televised debate before tomorrow's assembly poll.
In a series of lively exchanges filmed in front of a live audience, the five leaders set out their stall ahead of polling day, tackling a number of contentious issues, ranging from the cost of living crisis to a potential border poll.
When challenged on whether he would form an executive in the immediate aftermath of the election, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson reiterated his position that he will turn up "on day one" but said there would be no regional government until concerns over the Irish Sea border were addressed.
He said the political institutions "must be sustainable" and have "cross-community support".
The Sinn Féin deputy leader said it would be "absolutely unfathomable" to tell the electorate that a new executive would not be formed following the election.
She said she had still not been given a commitment from unionist leaders that they would "accept the democratic outcome of the election" and serve alongside Stormont's first nationalist first minister.
Ms O'Neill accused the DUP of "holding us all to ransom" over its position on refusing to go back into an executive without action on the protocol.
Alliance leader Naomi Long said it was "obscene" for politicians not to return to Stormont, as she called for reform of the institutions ahead of pollsters believe could be a breakthrough election for her party.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said while they can talk about the cost-of-living crisis and the health services, “nothing will be done about any of these issues if we don’t have a government”.
He said government in the north cannot be stopped because the British government and the European Commission have not reached an agreement over the protocol.
Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said he wanted to see a programme for government agreed before a new executive is formed.
"If you agree the programme for government first, its outcomes, what the budget is going to be... I think that's an important way for us to travel," he said.
