DUP "missing the point" in budget cut debate

Speaking during an Assembly debate on the Northern Ireland Budget, Ulster Unionist East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs urged members to make preparations for tough times ahead, rather than "face last-minute firefighting and, potentially, wasting limited public resources".

Emphasising that while the UUP does not support cuts to the Block Grant, it is essential to be "prepared for the options", Mr Beggs accused the DUP of inaction: "Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat representatives and indeed the DUP Finance Minister and the DUP First Minister have acknowledged that financial difficulties lie ahead for the public sector. It is unrealistic to think that nothing will fall on Northern Ireland," the East Antrim MLA said.

"Given the unprecedented borrowing by the Labour Government, significant reductions in public spending in the UK are inevitable. The UK's national debt is at its highest level since the Second World War.

"Some nationalist politicians think that we can get more money from Westminster. They should consider what happened down South, where the situation is even worse. Whether dealing with a household or government budget, all borrowed money must be repaid with interest. This inevitably means that less money raised in taxes will be available for delivery of public services.

Highlighting the contradiction between the DUP's motion and the position of its Finance Minister and Peter Robinson, the UUP MLA highlighted Sammy Wilson's Newsletter column which stated: ""we know that after the next Westminster election - whatever the outcome - our budget could be reduced by up to10 per cent".

"However, rather than consider the difficult options that NI public expenditure may face in the future, most in the DUP seem to be content to simply wait for the next General Election results. It appear that they would then criticise the next Government, whatever its complexion, and have to speedily reconsider expenditure plans.".

Speaking after the debate, Mr Beggs said: "I asked the DUP to reflect on the language of our amendment, because it was exactly the same as that used by its Minister of Finance and Personnel. A point that some in the DUP missed is that, by attacking us, they were also attacking their Minister."

Mr Beggs said that he and Party colleagues would "fight to minimise any cuts in expenditure and their effect on our constituents" but said that it was "unrealistic to say that there will be no change".

Expressing disappointment that Sinn Féin's answer was blindly support their DUP partners, the UUP MLA said that it was a matter of "keeping their heads in the sand and seeking more money from Westminster or increased taxes, while not even being prepared to attend in order to argue their case".