Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's visit to Northern Ireland has "raised expectations" that his government will take decisive action to tackle the crippling high cost of fuel and home heating oil, according to Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald.
Cost of Living Dominates "Very Forthright" Meeting
Ms McDonald stated that the escalating cost of living crisis was the primary focus during what she described as a "very forthright" meeting with Sir Keir in Belfast on Thursday. The Prime Minister was meeting with political leaders at Stormont before proceeding to the UK-Ireland Summit in Cork, accompanied by several senior Cabinet ministers.
"We've challenged the Prime Minister now to make an announcement, to come up with something that will actually make a difference to households right across the north that are struggling so badly," Ms McDonald declared in Belfast. "Thus far, they have not seen any kind of an adequate response from London, from the Prime Minister or from the Treasury."
Pressure Mounts on Fuel Price Crisis
The high-level discussions occur as governments across the UK and Ireland face mounting pressure over a sharp spike in fuel and home heating oil costs. This surge follows military actions by the US and Israel against Iran that commenced over a week ago, disrupting global energy markets.
"Keir Starmer has come to Ireland, to Belfast, to Cork," Ms McDonald noted. "He has framed his visit in respect of cost-of-living pressures, and specifically the price gouging, but also the runaway cost of home heating oil. He needs to come up with an answer for families all across the north."
The Sinn Fein leader added emphatically: "I fully expect, and we've made this plain to him, that he will have something constructive and meaningful to say in that regard when he comes and speaks to the press."
DUP Highlights Unspent £81 Million Support Package
However, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson struck a contrasting note, suggesting it "strikes a strange chord" that Northern Irish political figures would call on Sir Keir to act when substantial funding remains unutilised.
Mr Robinson revealed that actions to address soaring fuel costs and the "levers at his disposal" formed a particular part of Sir Keir's agenda during Thursday's discussions.
"He was as aghast as I was to discover that £81 million is sitting there waiting to be dispensed, to assist consumers in Northern Ireland," Mr Robinson stated. "Yet we have an economy minister that hasn't started work on a business case, and a party that still seems to be reluctant to agree that that figure is correct."
The DUP leader elaborated further: "It does strike a strange chord when some political leaders from Northern Ireland today will be saying that this Prime Minister needs to provide financial support, when he can stand back and say, I have done so, and £81 million is available for the people of Northern Ireland. It's up to your leaders to determine how best that support should be dispensed at this time of need."
Broader Political Discussions
Beyond the immediate fuel crisis, Mr Robinson confirmed they also discussed the powersharing institutions, the significant budgetary shortfall facing Northern Ireland, and what he termed post-Brexit related "nonsensical hangovers" affecting trade with Great Britain.
Meanwhile, Ms McDonald indicated that broader international concerns were raised during the meeting. These included issues relating to Palestine, the ongoing situation with Iran, and the UK's policy of arming Israel. Additionally, discussions touched upon the progress in establishing the Pat Finucane inquiry and the pressing need for an inquiry into the death of Sean Brown, a Catholic father murdered by loyalists in 1997.
The Prime Minister's visit occurs against a backdrop of renewed scrutiny over his appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as the UK's Washington ambassador. Recently released official documents revealed that Sir Keir had been warned of a "general reputational risk" associated with this controversial diplomatic posting.
