UUP MLA Steve Aiken: Aiken welcomes upward growth revision, cautions on Windsor Framework and EU interference

The news that Danske Bank has revised its forecast for economic growth in Northern Ireland, now projecting a modest 1.1 percent increase for 2025, has been welcomed by UUP Finance Spokesperson Steve Aiken.

He said: "While the new rate of 1.1% isn't spectacular, it does indicate that our private sector is more than just muddling through. However, the additional fiscal costs and administrative burdens of the inequitable Windsor Framework are further braking this growth.

Moreover, delays in any SPS agreement and the forthcoming burdens from changes to the Union Customs Code, with increasing divergence, will also negatively impact our economy. 

The tariff advantages between the UK and the EU in US trade should also boost Northern Ireland's growth. However, any attempts by the EU to stifle this growth must be resisted."