The Ulster Unionist Party has responded to the Secretary of State's comments presenting the UK Government's latest funding package as a final offer.

Ulster Unionist Finance Spokesperson, Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA said:

“Calling this the final offer does not make it a fair or sufficient offer. The UK Government has moved significantly from its opening position, and that should be acknowledged. However, even with extensive savings, the annual funding on offer would barely meet the pressures in Health alone. That puts the scale of the Executive’s wider problem into stark perspective.

“In the numerous budget talks we have had with the Government and the last two Secretaries of State, we have made clear that our public services need to deliver to our citizens the same standard of health, education, policing and other services as is available in any other postcode in our nation. Indeed, our Prime Minister has made that a main plank of his ‘Manchester’ reset.

“The recognition that Northern Ireland’s level of need is greater than 124% is welcome, but recognition without the necessary funding will not shorten a single waiting list or put another police officer on the street.

“Westminster must understand that Northern Ireland cannot continue to deliver comparable public services from an inadequate funding settlement. Equally, the Executive cannot keep asking for more money without demonstrating that it is prepared to tackle waste, duplication and poor decision-making.

“Additional revenue cannot become a substitute for reform, and reform cannot become an excuse for continued underfunding. Northern Ireland urgently needs an agreed multi-year Budget. With each day that passes, the continuing deadlock is damaging services and delaying the delivery of critical pay awards.

“The public has had enough of competing press statements and political blame-trading. The Secretary of State should remain open to further targeted support, rather than engaging in veiled threats that the UK Government will undermine devolution by going over the heads of Stormont Ministers to set undeliverable spending plans.

“There is now very little time left. All sides need to stop positioning themselves for the blame game and urgently take responsibility for reaching an agreement.”