DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson MP claims he has a mandate not to return to Stormont but a recent poll shows 81% say the DUP should return to power-sharing

More than 1,500 votes were cast in the Belfast Live readers' poll

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson MP claims to have a mandate not to re-enter Stormont but a live poll conducted by Belfast Live shows otherwise 

Four in five Belfast Live readers believe the DUP should return to Stormont power-sharing, according to a snap poll.

Some 81% said Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's party should end its boycott over Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol to focus on tackling the cost-of-living crisis.

More than 1,500 votes were cast in the online survey, which was held on Belfast Live from December 5.

Read more: Health officials feared DUP Protocol claims would be used for 'electioneering'. 

Readers were asked: 'Should the DUP agree to restore Stormont power-sharing to tackle the cost-of-living crisis?'

Of those who voted, more than 81% said 'yes' and almost 19% said 'no'.

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The snapshot poll was launched just days before MLA's were recalled to the Assembly in a fifth unsuccessful attempt to restore the devolved institutions.

A Sinn Féin motion backed by Alliance and the SDLP sought to debate cost-of-living pressures and uncertainty around when households would receive energy support payments.

However, the DUP once again blocked the Assembly and Executive from being restored in protest against the protocol.

Stormont's largest unionist party has vetoed the formation of a new administration since May's Assembly election.

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It has argued the protocol has undermined Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom by creatingting economic barriers on trade entering the region from Great Britain.

The party has insisted it will not allow a return to power-sharing until radical changes to the Irish Sea trade deal are delivered.

Negotiations between the UK government and the European Union to resolve differences over the protocol are continuing.

If a new Executive is not formed by January 19, the UK government assumes a legal responsibility to call a fresh Assembly election by April 13.

The government introduced legislation to extend the timeframe for forming an Executive beyond six months after a previous deadline of October 28 was missed.

Civil servants have assumed control of Stormont departments in the absence of ministers but they have limited decision-making powers. 

Now we have the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) and the UVF threatening violence and doing their very best to destroy the Good Friday Agreement (GFA). Whilst the DUP are taking direct orders from loyalist paramilitary terrorists 

Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris is to reduce MLA salaries by 27.5% from January 1st to reflect the fact they are not doing their job as legislators during the ongoing impasse. 

With many thanks to: Belfast Live and Brendan Hughes Political reporter for the original story. 

Follow these links to find out more on this story: More DUP lies and hypocrisy over the NI Protocol when are they going to begin starting to tell the truth?

Now the ball has been passed on to the DUP will they have the courage to pick it up as the UK and EU seek to clinch NI Brexit Deal before February

HIDING | Michelle O’Neill says serving under a Sinn Féin First Minister is the real reason behind DUP boycott

Poll: 81% say DUP should return to Stormont power-sharing