SDLP leader Mark Durkan claims that Downing Street pressurised his party “very strongly in the direction of voluntary coalition or exclusion, call it what you will” in January.
Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness said Mr Durkans comments were designed to make his party relevant ahead of forthcoming Westminster and local government elections.
The governments position is that it has to explore all the options being put forward by the various parties, a Downing Street spokesman said.
That does not mean it has decided on a particular one option.
A slightly inhuman presence that bans bad comments and works late at night to remove the wrinkles in Slugger’s technical carpet. You will need to know about the comments policy to stay off the fightin’ side of me and there is a bit of background about me here. You can email me using this spam-proof link if you really need to, and Slugger is @sluggerotoole on Twitter. But above all, remember, Play the ball and not the man.