Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“The Secretary of State’s endorsement of a fantasy budget signifies the desperation, which she shares with those proposing such a scam, to avoid facing up to the reality that there has been a catastrophic failure of mandatory coalition.
“Mandatory coalition is in tatters. Rather than look the other way and pretend otherwise, it is time to face up to this uncomfortable truth. Limping along with a bogus budget only perpetuates the pain.
“As for the Finance minister she has perfected a full u-turn. Two weeks ago she publicly repudiated the idea of bringing forward a budget based on the Stormont House Agreement, because of the £600m black hole it contained. Now, despite her previous stance, she wishes to do exactly that which she saw as wrong till Peter Robinson decided otherwise.
“A fantasy budget is a contemptuous fable and a dangerous deceit.”