Talks delayed as NI Secretary remains in London for Brexit meeting
All-party talks aimed at restoring the Northern Ireland executive at Stormont have been delayed.
Discussions that were due to take place on Thursday have now been postponed until Friday.
The BBC understands NI Secretary of State Karen Bradley has remained in London for a cabinet meeting on Brexit.
The smaller parties have said they are being kept in the dark about any progress, and they want this to change.
- Stormont deadlock Q&A
- Brexit: All you need to know
- Brexit 'technical talks' focus on Northern Ireland
The SDLP has warned it will not take part in a "pretend process" after the latest round of all party talks was postponed.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said his party will not be back until there is an inclusive process.
"For the first time in over a decade we are now powerless, after having spent decades trying to get power sharing in Northern Ireland.
"We want to see all-party talks, we want to see inclusive talks, we haven't seen that yet," he added.
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw said she was "frustrated" and that the talks postponement reinforced her party's previous call that an "independent facilitator" was needed.
"Someone who will be here day and night to meet with the parties to hammer out this deal," she told BBC Radio Ulster.
"We will be there tomorrow, we will be as robust and constructive and engaging as we always are, but we share the frustration right across the board on this."
Ms Bradshaw said her party would "reluctantly" be calling on the Secretary of State to bring forward a budget.
"It is not fair on those people who are trying to bring forward public services into the next financial year, it is not fair on the community and voluntary sector who are reliant on grant funding from 1 April," she added.
"It is not a very pleasant picture, regardless of who brings forward the budget."
Sinn Féin and the DUP have failed to find a resolution despite several rounds of talks.
Mrs Bradley, who was appointed to the post in January, has said "time is short" but there is one last opportunity to restore the executive.
She also said the DUP and Sinn Féin came close to a deal last year.