Last month Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness heavily hinted that Stormont could collapse if agreement was not reached by Christmas for the powers to be devolved, but that deadline has passed without any further progress on the contentious issue.

In a statement , Mr Campbell, who is unpopular with republicans because of what they see as his hardline unionist views, said that Sinn Fein would not be given concessions simply because they demanded them loudly enough.

Denouncing republicans' "30-year campaign of attempted ethnic cleansing", Mr Campbell said that despite the IRA's decommissioning and Sinn Fein support for the police, "they appear to have become accustomed to having offers made and their demands responded to.

"But now the new era is significantly different."

The DUP had agreed to devolve policing when there is "community confidence" but the East Londonderry MP said that the DUP were not party to any deal that Sinn Fein may have made with the Government to secure the transfer of powers by a certain date.

"They know that we were never involved in the dealings they had but now expect us to agree with them," he said, again linking the issue to a resolution of the parading controversy.