Andy Burnham will meet with Stormont political leaders during his first visit to Northern Ireland since becoming Prime Minister. Mr Burnham is in Belfast for the latest part of his cost-of-living tour of the UK.
The Prime Minister is meeting with young people in the city and will later host talks with First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly and separately with the main political parties. Those talks are expected to be dominated by the budget crisis facing Stormont.
Budget crisis at Stormont
Devolved ministers have failed to agree a budget for the current financial year, with departments operating on contingency budgets since April. Ministers have consistently made the point that they need more funding from the Treasury to address a funding crisis facing public services in Northern Ireland.
The Treasury has previously said it will undertake a “programme of work” to understand the financial pressures that Stormont departments are facing.
Prime Minister’s message
Mr Burnham said: “People in Northern Ireland want more breathing space from the cost of living, good, well-paid jobs and opportunities for their children.
“Political point-scoring in the past has made this harder, not easier.
“We need to be better, so I want to work with the Northern Ireland Executive and the main political parties to try and make a real difference to communities here, and that’s the message I’ll be taking into my meetings later.”
Earlier, the Prime Minister had announced plans to bring together the leaders of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the autumn for a summit to help boost the UK economy.
First Minister’s demands
Speaking ahead of Mr Burnham’s visit, Ms O’Neill said the “big focus” would be around the budget.
She said: “We need Andy Burnham to actually deliver in terms of getting a fair budget settlement that actually works for public services.
“We’ve got our nurses talking about going out and strike, and they shouldn’t have to go on strike, but the reality is that we are so underfunded, have been for years.
“If Andy Burnham wants to make a difference, then he can make a difference by actually changing the funding arrangement.
“What we have currently does not cut it, does not work.
“It’s not enough investment for our people who pay their taxes, they make sure they turn up every day.
“Public servants will turn up for them. Andy Burnham can take a different approach. I’ll test that with him.”
She added: “My view is very strongly that Westminster, any British Prime Minister, and the Westminster situation never serves us well, never will serve us well.
“I don’t expect any difference from Andy Burnham. However, my job is to make the case for a proper funding model over here, and that’s what I intend to do.”
