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Ritchie: Budget cuts will be devolution’s big challenge

SDLP Leader and South Down MP Margaret Ritchie MLA has warned that the forthcoming budget cuts will present our Executive and Assembly with one of its biggest challenges.

Sun 5th September

Speaking after an SDLP assembly group away day in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, Ms Ritchie said the SDLP will bring forward new proposals to help families and firms and protect frontline services in these difficult times.

 

She said: “The past few years has seen the North face a major recession the likes many people have never witnessed before.

 

“The next few months will see our Executive have to deal with budget cuts few will have had the experience of dealing with before. When the Treasury announce next month what Northern Ireland has to spen dit present this phase of devolution with its biggest challenge.

 

“Every party will say they oppose the cuts but what the public will want to know is what they are going to do about it. It is action they need not words – after all devolution was supposed to be about delivery and improving lives and livelihoods. False stances or phoney stand-offs between Sinn Féín and the DUP will not wash.

 

“For the SDLP job protection and creation and the need to protect people and frontline services will be at the top of our agenda.

 

“Last year we brought forward innovative and imaginative proposals to save money and raise it elsewhere to establish our new priorities in this difficult economic climate.

 

“We said then and this was only the start of the debate and we encouraged others to join us. Sadly the response of our Executive has been negligible.

 

“In the next few weeks the SDLP will be updating our existing plans and bringing forward new proposals to take to the heart of government in Belfast, Dublin and London.

 

“Making devolution work has always been the SDLP’s priority that remains unchanged but devolution now faces a stern test - can it keep its people in work and help those out of work get back into it?

 

“The SDLP in the Executive and the Assembly will be doing everything we can to ensure this challenge is met.”

Margaret Ritchie

Margaret Ritchie MP, MLA, Assembly

Email m.ritchie@sdlp.ie
Tel 028 4461 2882

Press Office

Tel 028 90 42 1837

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