Welfare cuts

McGuinness: “Work on the programme for government has been going on prior to the election for some months.”

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With only two weeks set aside to allow the new Northern Ireland Executive’s Programme for Government to be thrashed out, and agreed between the parties, you might think that time was of the essence.  But apparently not… The BBC are reporting that there will be a delay to the start of those negotiations. That may be a surprise to the new Sinn Féin MLA for Foyle, Martin McGuinness.  On Sunday he told the BBC that “On Monday, we will be entering discussions …

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“Sinn Féin achieved a welfare system better than the one in Britain, by an average of £94m per year…” – Redux

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Back in February 2015, this was Sinn Féin’s original line on the welfare cuts mitigation schemes agreed at the first Stormont Castle Agreement. …Sinn Féin from 2011 onwards opposed the proposed welfare cuts and insisted welfare protection was absolutely fundamental for all citizens. “That is why Sinn Féin politically campaigned against welfare cuts alongside trade unions and grassroots communities. “This principle guided our strategy during the Stormont House negotiations and why, in December last, when the other four Executive parties …

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Anti- austerity arguments are not limited to Sinn Fein, but a proper debate about the real impact of cuts is needed.

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Anxiety and anger over budget plans including welfare cuts continue on both sides of the water. Amid the attacks on George Osborne for “ Tory austerity” in his  plans to cut public  spending  by a further £20 billion or 40% for unprotected  areas, a rough comparison of public spending as a share of GDP  suggests that  UK and Irish spending by this measure will remain roughly comparable to the end of the decade. I float this out in the hope …

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…this long rumoured Assembly collapse…

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Over in New York, Gerry Adams has just issued a statement on the current impasse over welfare cuts in the Assembly (as reported by Liam Clarke). According to the report, Sinn Féin will let the Assembly fall and trigger an election rather than implement the cuts and Gerry Adams said: “It isn’t that we want an election but if some of the parties in the North are going to follow this agenda, then let them bring it on to the …

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“Black Thursday” on its way some time between tomorrow and the end of the financial year

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So here’s the ‘paradox’: Sinn Fein’s resistance of cuts to the Welfare budget means not only is there a negation of the moderated deal they jointly negotiated with the DUP, but the fines will drop not in the post, but in the bank account on the first day of next year’s financial year. Direct rule and deep cuts are looming as deadline looms @mickfealty via @LIAMCLARKECJ #blackthursday pic.twitter.com/63PI9dlIr6 — Katie-o (@kateyo) September 24, 2014 UPdate: Here’s the text of Liam …

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Poots to pit welfare reform against impending NHS spending ‘cuts’ in Northern Ireland?

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So, relax. Despite some fevered rumours to the contrary Ed Poots is calling time on the current executive, yet. Despite, or perhaps because of, a wrap over the knuckles for a £13.1 million overspend in Health, he’s gone into overdrive to point out that a £20 million rise in the Health budget is in fact a real terms cut. #108878571 / gettyimages.com As the BelTel notes… Edwin Poots insisted the health service would not be able to function properly if a …

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Are unionists ‘…committed to drastically lowering people’s standards of living’?

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This is a quick companion piece to Mick’s on welfare reform cuts. Gerry Adams issued a longish statement last week on the issue, which presumably can be taken as the current Sinn Féin position. These are a few relevant extracts: The DUP has repeatedly demonstrated an unwillingness to participate positively in any of the institutions. Instead it has adopted a tactical approach aimed at serving the political agenda of a fundamentalist rump in their party rather than the needs of the …

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