Prime minister Gordon Brown has flown to Northern Ireland in a bid to resolve the deepening row at Stormont.

Mr Brown will be meeting with Ireland’s political leaders in a bid to resolve the issue, with relations between Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionists deteriorating over recent weeks.

At the heart of the row is the issue of when policing justice powers should be devolved from Westminster. It is hoped the visit from the PM will resolve the issue, when the leaders meet at Stormont castle today.

Sinn Fein deputy-leader first minister Martin McGuinness wants the devolved policing powers to come into effect immediately, while DUP first minister Peter Robinson is more cautious.

As a consequence, while both support the transfer of law and order responsibilities from Westminster, they are at loggerheads over the timing.

Mr McGuinness claims the move should have happened months ago but the DUP says funding – thought to be around £600 million – must be in place first.

The amount of cash provided by the UK government is likely to top the agenda at the talks in Stormont castle.

Mr Brown will also receive a briefing on the current threat posed by dissident republicans from Northern Ireland’s new chief constable Matt Baggott.

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