Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“The Sinn Fein/DUP coalition look pretty foolish this morning as a key component of their supposed “fresh start” is already redundant after the withdrawal of tax credit cuts. Everyone knew 25th November was the key financial date, but because the Sinn Fein/DUP deal was calendar driven, with Peter Robinson’s planned retirement date the key driver, they rushed to publish. Now, they look incompetent and foolish.
“The key issue now is how far will the DUP roll over to placate Sinn Fein by pouring more money into welfare mitigation as a means of saving McGuinness’ blushes over their climbdown.
“This £240m was coming from across the block grant – it was never new or extra money – and thus it must return to general block grant expenditure and not be siphoned off into propping up welfare. We’ve had enough of that already. Let’s see how far the DUP stand up to Sinn Fein in sorting out the mess they have created.”