Budget savings: Where Sammy Wilson could start

REJECTING Finance Minister Sammy Wilson's accusation that those resisting the Westminster Tory/Liberal Government's Budget axe are being irresponsible when it comes to saving money, Sinn Féin Economy spokesperson Mitchel McLaughlin MLA said Sammy should look at his DUP colleagues first.

“It’s possible that Mr Wilson was actually referring to his DUP party colleague, Edwin Poots, who scuppered the Reform of Public Administration which would have saved over £400million over 25 years; or his party colleagues who are blocking the implementation by Education Minister Caitríona Ruane of ESA, the single education authority which would save tens of millions of pounds annually which could be used for building new schools and other frontline services.

“So before Sammy surrenders to the demands of the British Tory agenda of public service cuts he should have a word with his party colleagues who have squandered hundreds of millions through their obstinate stance on anything that doesn’t fit in with their narrow political agenda.

“Sammy Wilson, no more than anybody else, knows the detail of what is going to be announced by the British Government on October 22nd.

“Certainly, Sinn Féin are of the view that we should anticipate the probability that the British Government will attempt to introduce cuts but we shouldn’t simply surrender or offer ourselves meekly to implement those cuts.

“We need to be investing in recovery, not slashing and burning. You cannot cut your way to recovery. What you need to do is revitalise the economy. You need to invest in development and the only way we can do that is by getting the resources, demanding fiscal powers for the Assembly, and acquiring the tools in our tool kit that will give us the opportunity to rebalance our economy.”

CRÍOCH