THE British government is proposing constituency based elections, operating a party list system, as the prelude to all party negotiations in the North beginning on June 10th. Subject to cabinet approval this morning details of the proposed elective process are expected to be announced in a ministerial statement in the House of Commons this afternoon.
The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, after being briefed by the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, has declined to endorse or reject the process for Northern Ireland which the British government will publish today. A Government spokesman in Dublin avoided any comment last night.
It is believed that Thursday, May 30th, is London's preferred date for the elections, to be conducted on a "hybrid" system originally proposed by the Green Party of Ireland.
As reported in yesterday's Irish Times, the British blueprint will suggest the election of a 110 member forum in the North. While the elected forum would have no legislative or administrative function, sources yesterday confirmed it would have "independent institutional expression" separate from the process of all party negotiations.
Under the British scheme, it is proposed that electors in each of the North's 18 Westminster constituencies will be asked to cast their votes for one political party. Parties reaching the required quota would have candidates - drawn from party lists - deemed elected.
Surplus votes would then be "reserved" and, in the case of any final seat being declared under the quota, it would go to the party in that constituency with the largest surplus vote.
The additional 20 seats in the forum would be allocated, two each, to the 10 parties polling the largest number of votes overall across Northern Ireland. This method of "topping up" parties' constituency performances is obviously intended to maximise the chances of fringe loyalist parties securing representation in the talks process.
There was speculation at Westminster last night that a ministerial announcement by Mr Major or Sir Patrick Mayhew - might not be precise about the nature of the forum. One well placed source suggested the British government might hold back on a detailed commitment to try to secure Ulster Unionist agreement for the ground rules for the negotiations agreed by the two governments last week.
It was also thought unlikely that the announcement would be specific about the terms of any referendum to be held inviting support for the principles of non violence. Sources yesterday again confirmed there has been no substantive discussion between London and Dublin on this issue, and the prospects for such a referendum, to be held north and south of the Border, appeared to be receding last night.
Mr Spring and the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, spent last night in Donegal where they launched their respective by election campaigns. It seems likely that Mr Bruton may not have a phone conversation with the British Prime Minister, Mr Major, to discuss the proposals before their publication. The SDLP has said it wilt boycott any forum that should follow from elections. Such an elected body was part of the Ulster Unionist Party's "internalist and incrementalist agenda" said Mr, Mark Durkan, former SDLP chairman.