A spokesperson for the NI Conservatives, Frank Chivers, said: “Recent economic figures – on growth and employment in Northern Ireland – show that the economic recovery in the Northern Ireland is increasingly being ‘killed by Stormont’.
He said: “The firm and decisive leadership of George Osborne has laid the foundations for economic recovery in the UK but Northern Ireland is falling further and further behind. Why? The blame must lie firmly with the local political parties.”
The Bangor businessman rounded on the SDLP and SF and their failure to stick to the Stormont House Agreement.
“The failure of Sinn Fein and the SDLP to agree a budget deal and stick to it has caused months of uncertainty. This has undermined the confidence of both local businessmen and foreign investors.”
Mr Shivers also rounded on the DUP and UUP saying: “The UUP and DUP have now made matters worse by their resignation stunts. They are behaving with complete indifference to those in Northern Ireland who want to build a stable society and stronger economy.
“Ironically they have also, through their actions actually become ‘enemies of the Union’.
Mr Shivers speculated that the Government will be left with little choice but to legislate to bring in welfare reform and added: “The local parties are putting internal policies and electoral advantage ahead of a deall. For months and months we have seen vulnerable people suffer – most notably in the health service because of the incompetence of the Executive and their inability to set a proper budget.”
According to Mr Shivers the failure to implement welfare reform is hurting welfare recipients – most of who would be better off or no worse off following the reforms. And in turn it means that vital public services have been deprived of millions of pounds that could have been used , for example, to try to get waiting lists under control.
“Of course such a step may upset Sinn Fein but the UK government has a responsibility to protect the citizens of Northern Ireland from the chaos the impending financial crisis facing the Northern Ireland Executive would inflict,” added Mr Chivers.
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