UK Budget underlines failure of Executive to do its job - McCrossan

SDLP West Tyrone MLA., Daniel McCrossan, has welcomed any additional support for households announced in the UK Budget, but said the Executive’s failure to agree its own Budget is letting down local families, businesses and public services.

Mr McCrossan said people across West Tyrone need an Executive focused on tackling rising costs, improving services and delivering investment.

“For families across Strabane, Omagh and our rural communities, the pressure of heating bills, food costs and keeping a car on the road is a daily reality. Any additional support that helps people meet those costs is welcome,” he said..

“In West Tyrone, many households depend on home heating oil and have little choice but to drive to work, school or medical appointments.

“Those circumstances must be recognised in the support coming from Westminster.

“But people deserve more than another temporary fix. While the Chancellor makes decisions affecting households here, our own Executive still cannot agree how to spend the money available to it.

“That is a failure to carry out the most basic responsibility of government.”

The local MLA continued: “Local businesses cannot plan ahead on political promises.

“Schools, health services and community organisations cannot deliver properly without certainty about their funding.

“The consequences of this dysfunction are felt by people waiting for care, families struggling to get support and businesses trying to keep their doors open.

“West Tyrone has enormous potential, from our farming and food sectors to manufacturing, tourism and cross border trade. Realising that potential requires investment in our roads, infrastructure and public services.

“The UK Government must provide a fair settlement, but Ministers at Stormont cannot continually point to Westminster while failing to do their own jobs.

“People across West Tyrone deserve an agreed Budget, clear priorities and delivery. They have had enough of excuses.”