Good Friday structures can only be reformed if all sides back it, Blair warns

The former prime minister was central to the intensive negotiations that delivered Northern Ireland’s peace accord in 1998.

Sir Tony Blair (Victoria Jones/PA) (PA Wire)

The Good Friday Agreement should only be changed with cross community consent in Northern Ireland, former prime minister Sir Tony Blair has warned.

The ex-Labour leader, who played a pivotal role in negotiating the historic deal in 1998, said there was a case for reforming the devolved powersharing structures at Stormont, given the regularity of governance collapses in the region in the 25 years since.

The arrangements incorporate a system based on mutual veto powers, enabling blocs of unionist and nationalist MLAs to stop moves that otherwise command majority support and, in extreme circumstances, pull down the institutions and prevent them operating.