SDLP Deputy Leader Nichola Mallon MLA has hit out at Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy “fake news” claims after the SDLP exposed Sinn Féin’s failure to protect families from Universal Credit cuts.

Ms Mallon said:

“Sinn Féin have spent the evening spinning fake news to cover for their own failure to protect the most disadvantaged in our society from Universal Credit cuts.

“It beggars belief that Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy is peddling fake news to cover up for his failure to provide financial support to protect those on low incomes from universal credit cuts.

“The truth is this, Sinn Féin’s Deidre Hargey bid for £55million in October monitoring round. I was the only Minister at the Executive who gave her my support.

“Late on a Friday, her own party colleagues Conor Murphy and Michelle O'Neill did a back room deal with the DUP to approve the October budget without other Ministers. In a shocking and shameful decision, Sinn Féin Ministers rejected their own Minister’s bid and instead decided to leave over 134,000 people on Universal Credit facing cuts and hardship this winter.

“My position, the position of my party inside and outside of the Executive has always been consistent, honest and people focused, rather than party politically motivated like others.

“The SDLP will not today, not ever, take lectures from Sinn Féin on honesty, integrity or respect. If Sinn Féin and Conor Murphy want to support people suffering on low incomes, then they should act, they should support their own Communities Minister’s bid like the SDLP did.

“Sinn Féin can keep spinning, but the public know the truth and more importantly, they know who they can trust to stand upto the DUP and the Tories. After almost 15 years of the DUP and Sinn Féin’s back room deals, the people deserve better.”