Belfast City Council backs Sinn Féin motion opposing Tory welfare cuts

FALLS COUNCILLOR Jim McVeigh says that social justice had trumped Tory greed after Belfast City Council voted on Monday night to back a Sinn Féin motion opposing the imposition of Tory welfare cuts.

The Sinn Féin council group leader said:

“Belfast City councillors have tonight sent out a strong message that the welfare cuts being proposed by David Cameron’s millionaire Cabinet are unacceptable to the citizens of this city.

“The council has recognised the devastating impact the proposed Tory welfare cuts would have on the most vulnerable people in our society, including working families, the poor and people with disabilities.”

The Sinn Féin figure said that, at Belfast City Council:

“Social justice has tonight trumped Tory greed.”

Jim McVeigh added:

“Civic society in Britain, the churches, charities, trades unions and people at the coalface of delivering frontline services have branded the welfare cuts a disgrace and an attack on the poor.

“Sinn Féin is calling on local people to unite in a campaign to protect those who need our help most and to stop these Tory cuts in their tracks.”

◼︎  NEWRY & ARMAGH MP Conor Murphy has hit back at Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith’s call in the House of Commons on Monday for Sinn Féin to back the Tory-led government’s attacks on the welfare system.

The millionaire Duncan Smith was answering a question from Ian Paisley Jnr, whose Democratic Unionist Party is supporting the welfare cuts.

Conor Murphy said later that Sinn Féin will continue its opposition to “vicious Tory welfare cuts and won’t be taking lectures on our responsibilities to the electorate from Iain Duncan Smith or anyone else in Cameron’s millionaire Cabinet”.

Conor Murphy added:

“Iain Duncan Smith’s welfare cuts in Britain have been an unmitigated disaster since their introduction in 2013.

“These cuts have been an attack on the most vulnerable people in society, taking money out of the pockets of low-paid workers, people with disabilities, lone parents and the poor.

“The impact of these vicious cuts in Britain has been increasing levels of child poverty, homelessness and dependency on charities and food banks.

“People have been driven to desperation and even suicide and the welfare system set up by Iain Duncan Smith is in chaos.

 “The responsible thing for all parties here to do is to stand up together against the Tories attempt to impose further hardship on those who can least afford it.”