Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has said the 2016/17 Budget offers no hope of change for the people of Northern Ireland.
Mr Nesbitt said:
“The 2016/2017 Budget document is particularly short on detail regarding how the Northern Ireland Executive intends to spend the £11 billion at its disposal. What is clear is there is nothing new in the budget proposals and therefore there is no reasonable hope that this budget will do anything for the prosperity of our people, either financially or regarding their wellbeing.
“The cat leaps out of the bag with the assessment of living standards that makes clear the prosperity gap that leaves the people of Northern Ireland trailing far behind their fellow citizens in Great Britain was actually closing, until 2007, when the DUP and Sinn Féin took control of the devolved government.
“This Budget contains a requirement that we spend £60 million of tax payers’ money paying debt interest, as our per capita borrowing hits £1,138 against £414 in Scotland. £60 million is what the Department of Health has to fund all paramedic services, or twice what the Department of Justice has been given to create Safer Communities. This level of debt is dragging us down and tying a huge burden around the necks of our children and grandchildren.
“The Ulster Unionist Party recognises the people of Northern Ireland are a proud people and what is being done in their name in this budget is not as good as it gets. We will publish our alternative vision later this month.”
