xa0A spokesperson for the NI Conservatives, Frank Chivers, xa0said: “Recent economic figures – on growth and employment in Northernxa0Ireland – show that the economic recovery in the Northern Ireland isxa0increasingly being ‘killed by Stormont’.
He said: “The firm and decisive leadership of George Osborne has laid thexa0foundations for economic recovery in the UK but Northern Ireland isxa0falling further and further behind. Why? The blame must lie firmlyxa0with the local political parties.”
The Bangor businessman rounded on the SDLP and SF and their failure toxa0stick to the Stormont House Agreement.
“The failure of Sinn Fein and the SDLP to agree a budget deal andxa0stick to it has caused months of uncertainty. This has undermined thexa0confidence of both local businessmen and foreign investors.”
Mr Shivers also rounded on the DUP and UUP saying: xa0“The UUP and DUP have now made matters worse by their resignation stunts.xa0They are behaving with complete indifference to those in Northernxa0Ireland who want to build a stable society and stronger economy.
“Ironically they have also, through their actions actually becomexa0‘enemies of the Union’.
Mr Shivers speculated that the Government will be left with littlexa0choice but to legislate to bring in welfare reform and added:xa0“The local parties are putting internal policies and electoral advantage ahead of a deall. For monthsxa0and months we have seen vulnerable people suffer – most notably inxa0the 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 isxa0hurting welfare recipients – most of who would be better off or noxa0worse off following the reforms. And in turn it means that vitalxa0public services have been deprived of millions of pounds that couldxa0have 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 axa0responsibility to protect the citizens of Northern Ireland from thexa0chaos the impending financial crisis facing the Northern Ireland Executive would inflict,” added Mr Chivers.
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