Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole has said a Stormont budget being set in London would be a “profound failure” by both the Executive and the UK Government. The SDLP MLA made the comments as Northern Ireland's powersharing government passed the six-month mark without a budget for the current financial year last week.
Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant previously said he had asked officials to consider “contingency plans” around a budget for the region. Mr O'Toole said it would be a “profound failure of governance by the Executive and UK Government” if a Stormont budget was set in London, adding that it “should not be contemplated”.
Executive united on funding shortfall
It comes as Stormont ministers across the Executive are in agreement that they believe the current financial settlement from the UK Government is not sufficient. London has made a financial offer slightly above £1.5 billion over the next three years in an effort to assist with balancing Stormont's budget.
The Executive is expected to meet on Thursday, but DUP leader Gavin Robinson suggested that meeting could happen as early as Tuesday morning. Speaking to media at Parliament Buildings on Monday morning, Mr Robinson said he thinks it is “important that it does happen”.
Finance Minister's response
Finance Minister John O'Dowd appeared before the Assembly on Monday afternoon after an urgent oral question put by Mr O'Toole. Mr O'Dowd said his priority “remains to secure a fair and sustainable multi-year budget that gives departments certainty and enables them to plan, invest in and transform public services”.
“That requires sufficient stable funding from the British Government,” he told MLAs. “The Executive has engaged extensively with the Secretary of State, they've also met the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Chancellor to press for a fairer sustainable settlement.”
“Given the scale of the challenge, and the consequences for services, I wrote to the Secretary of State last week seeking more time for the Executive to respond to his latest offer.”
O'Dowd: offer 'falls well short'
“Departments face acute pressures. The British Government's offer falls well short of what is needed to deliver fair pay awards, protect frontline services and provide the stability that our public services, economy and communities urgently need,” Mr O'Dowd said.
“The Executive is playing its part, work on reform and transformation is already under way, but the British Government must also provide the fair sustainable funding required now. Agreeing a budget and securing funding go hand in hand. We remain committed to engagement aimed at protecting services and achieving financial sustainability that delivers for workers and families.”
Speaking earlier, Mr O'Toole said: “People want to see a resolution to the Garvaghy issue but we can't forget that there is a law which says we're supposed to pass a budget, we're six months into the new financial year and there is no budget.”
“It means public services continue to get worse, and there can be no action to help people meaningfully with the spiralling fuel prices. Showing up and taking responsibility does mean governing this place too, and we need to be cognisant of not pushing this place into further crisis.”
