Sinn Fein has accused the UK government of threatening Northern Ireland for its reluctance to implement its welfare reforms.
Sinn Fein has accused the UK government of threatening Northern Ireland for its reluctance to implement its welfare reforms.
In order to implement the ConDem coalition’s reforms, including the introduction of the increasingly shaky Universal Credit, the Northern Ireland Assembly has to pass legislation which is still being considered by Assembly Members.
This has led the UK government to warn of serious financial implications if the reforms aren’t implemented soon.
Ahead of a meeting with Northern Ireland’s social development minister Nelson McCausland in Belfast today, the UK government work and pensions minister Mike Penning has said he is looking for a way “to avoid substantial reductions in funding and to ensure there’s a system in place that is right for claimants and fair to taxpayers both in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK”.
“While this is ultimately a devolved matter, I’m concerned about the lack of progress that has been made which has already cost over £30m in lost savings and this figure is increasing by around £5m every month.
“If this continues we are potentially talking about tens of millions of pounds more that will need to be found elsewhere by the Northern Ireland Executive,” he said.
The treasury has already concluded that unless the reforms are introduced in Northern Ireland, the block grant will have to be reduced in order to compensate for lost savings.
The comments and threats, however, have been met with anger by Sinn Fein, with Alex Maskey, a member of the Assembly’s social development committee, explaining:
“We’re being threatened basically by the British government to penalise us further for trying to make sure that we represent the interests of the people here, that we represent, that no Tory represents.”
In October, research reported by Left Foot Forward suggested that Northern Ireland would be the hardest hit region as a result of the welfare reforms.
Committing himself to seeing the reforms through, however, the DUP Minister Nelson McCausland has concluded:
“I am committed to taking the Welfare Reform Bill through the assembly as soon as the parties in the executive can agree to move forward to consideration stage.
“I have developed a package of measures which I believe shapes welfare reform to meet the needs of the people of Northern Ireland.
“I would hope to be able to bring this package, to the executive in the very near future.”
To reach hundreds of thousands of new readers and to make the biggest impact we can in the next general election, we need to grow our donor base substantially.
That's why in 2024, we are seeking to generate 150 additional regular donors to support Left Foot Forward's work.
We still need another 124 people to donate to hit the target. You can help. Donate today.
4 Responses to “UK government threatening Northern Ireland on welfare, claims Sinn Fein”
Sparky
Never mind this. Why don’t we have a piece acknowledging that even Labour have now admitted they were wrong on immigration. Even Jack Straw admits he was wrong. David Blunkett now realises the problems that vast numbers of Roma migrants are creating. For years you hand-wringing middle class leftish academics have tried to smear anyone who disagreed with Labour’s enforced social change thru immigration as racists. Net migration increased five-fold under Labour. The population of London increased by 12% in just 10 years. A million Polish people arrived in Briton compared with 13,000 Labour said they expected.
Jeremy
Fuk U Kip!
Karen
‘Never mind this’ – um, some of us fucking live in Northern Ireland, you know. And, shock horror, not every one of the aforesaid is some dirty, heathen immigrant out to destroy the precious UK. IMAGINE!
So yeah, mind this.
Peter Wild
We live on an Island, we are all immigrants or descendants of immigrants…