10:18

Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister, has resigned from office in protest over his power sharing partner’s handling of a bungled green energy scheme.

McGuinness’ resignation means an election to a new Northern Ireland assembly, which will be expected to rancorous and divisive, is now inevitable.

Under the complex rules of power sharing in the region if either first minister or deputy first minister walks out of office the coalition government between unionists and nationalists falls.

The former chief negotiator for Sinn Fein during the peace process who once admitted to being an IRA commander at the Bloody Sunday tribunal said he was leaving the post because of first minister Arlene Foster’s refusal to stand down temporarily from her job.

He said the party’s ruling central committee had agreed on the strategy last night. It followed calls from Sinn Fein president for Arlene Foster to step aside from her post.

In a statement on Monday afternoon McGuinness said:

The first minister has refused to stand aside, without prejudice, pending a preliminary report from an investigation. That position is not credible or tenable,” he said in his resignation letter. It is with deep regret and reluctance that I am tendering my resignation as deputy first minister with effect from 5pm on Monday, 9th January 2017.

Serious questions have been raised by opposition parties about the so-called ‘cash for ash’ scandal which is estimated is going to cost the taxpayer at least £400m in lost revenue.

The first minister has been under pressure to stand down for the duration of a proposed independent inquiry into the Renewable Heating Initiative.