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9 July 2015

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Tory Westminster Budget will hit North's low-paid, families and children particularly hard

WEDNESDAY'S Westminster Budget unveiled by Tory Chancellor (Finance Minister) George Osborne has been described by Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy as a further attack on low-paid workers and families by the Conservative Party Government sitting in London.

Sinn Féin MP Francie Molloy said at Westminster that the Tory Budget will drive people deeper into poverty.

Sinn Féin MLA Megan Fearon said it will drive more children and young people into poverty.

Conor Murphy MP

Conor Murphy described Osborne's plan as a direct attack on low-paid workers, families, those struggling to survive, frontline public services “and our political institutions”. 

The Sinn Féin MLA added:

This budget will usher in billion of further cuts targeted against the most vulnerable in society. We have seen a £12billion reduction in welfare payments with a further £20billion cuts to public services flagged up. 

“These latest cuts are coming on top of the Tories' slashing of £1.5billion from the block grant and would take millions more out of the local economy.”

He said that George Osborne “and his millionaire Cabinet colleagues” appear intent on driving thousands of families in the North of Ireland deeper into poverty and attack those on low and middle incomes. 

“This is clearly a Budget for the rich from a party which has no mandate here. 

“The fact is that austerity isn't working. It doesn't work in Britain, it doesn't work in Ireland, and it doesn't work in Europe. 

“There is a fairer way. We need to grow the economy and stop introducing cuts targeted at those who have nothing left to give and which have a negative impact on the local economy.

“Instead of further austerity we need workable and sustainable finances for the Executive and powers to grow and develop our economy.”

Tory Budget 2015 Daily Mirror cover

Sinn Féin Mid Ulster MP Francie Molloy, who was in London for the Budget announcement, said that Tory plans to cut tax credits are targeted against low-paid workers and will hit people in the North of Ireland particularly hard. 

“These draconian cuts will force more and more people, including children, into hardship and condemn future generations deeper into poverty. 

“This will also have a depressive impact on the wider economy as working-class families will have less money to spend in local shops and businesses.”

Francie Molloy

He added:

“We need a united approach from civic society, business, community and the trade union movement to continue to oppose austerity.”

Megan Fearon

More than 100,000 children in the North will be worse off because of cuts to child tax credits, Sinn Féin MLA Megan Fearon said.

“This Tory Government has said that, after 2017, families with more than two children will not be entitled to child tax credits for additional children, condemning future generations into poverty. 

“The North of Ireland has a younger population than Britain so these cuts to working family tax credits and child tax credits will have a disproportionate impact here. 

“Levels of child poverty are already at unacceptable levels in the North and this budget will only increase those levels. 

“All of these cuts reinforce the hypocrisy of Tory claims to make child poverty disappear.”

Tory Budget 2015 The National cover

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