THERE is concern in Government circles that the British government might adopt the UUP model for a multi-seat constituency election in the North or go for a mix of this and the list system. A statement of the British government's intentions is expected at the end of this week.
According to senior sources, no indications were given to the Government yesterday about British intentions for the elections, which are to pave the way for all-party negotiations on June 10th.
However, there are fears that the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, might propose to hold the referendum suggested by the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, as a quid pro quo for acceptance of Mr David Trimble's favoured option of a 90-seat negotiating body.
The SDLP deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, described the referendum to endorse the principles of non-violence and support for negotiations as a completely separate entity to elections. His party had "very clearly" indicated its position on elections. The proposed election was not an election in the normal sense" in that it was simply intended to provide a mandate to negotiate the future.
Asked if he was optimistic about the outcome of the peace process, Mr Mallon replied: "I do not express any great hope at this stage in the context of the immediate future."
The Government has clearly indicated to London its reservations about multi-constituency elections at the end of May and has stressed that the list system is most likely to win maximum support. Sources said last night that the British government was aware of the Government's opposition to accepting the UUP strategy. But there was also concern that London might favour an amalgam of election options, which would lessen the chances of loyalist parties getting to the negotiating table.
This mix of strategies could mean "the worst of both worlds", according to one source.
The chances of a restoration of the IRA ceasefire will also be greatly diminished if the British government decides to permit the establishment of an assembly or forum favoured by the UUP. Sinn Fein sources said that, when it was clear what form the elections would take, the party "will decide what to do".
"There is a very clear danger that the unionists' intention is to stall the start of negotiations and to try to put it in an internal context. To nationalists that is anathema. If they get this, there is a danger that there will not be all-party talks led by the two governments," according to another source.
The British government's intentions are expected to be known before next weekend's Sinn Fein ardfheis in Dublin and will be publicly debated by delegates. Motions have been tabled on "all aspects" of the peace process.