Elected politics is about speaking up and this week we’ve been involved in several robust exchanges with Government. We’ve been speaking up for working families and pensioners in Northern Ireland. I made clear our opposition to the Government’s shameful decision on Winter Fuel payments. I also expressed the deep felt hurt of so many innocent victims that this Government has created a hierarchy of victims in granting a Public Inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.
On Thursday, our Deputy First Minister, Emma Little Pengelly MLA, travelled to London to meet with the Chancellor. During this meeting, she made clear that the current funding arrangements for Northern Ireland are simply not sufficient. We are funded below what is considered “need,” and that is unacceptable. Our public services cannot be expected to function properly and modernise unless they are properly funded.
The Chancellor was also reminded that balancing the books cannot, and must not, be done on the backs of our pensioners. These are people who have worked hard all their lives and should not be asked to bear the brunt of financial cuts when they are least able to do so.
As you may know, in 46 days, this Labour government will set their first Budget on October 30th. The Democratic Unionist Party will be championing a better deal for working families and pensioners.
In the first days of this government, pensioners, who are already living on modest incomes, have been unfairly targeted. For more than 200k pensioners living in Northern Ireland, their winter fuel payment has been cut.
There is also speculation that after the next rise in the State Pension, if the personal allowance is unchanged at £12,570, some pensions will be taxed. It would be shameful that at a time when pensioners should be receiving more support, they could instead be asked to pay even more to the taxman. This government should be protecting pensioners, not penalizing them for working hard all their life.
There has also been a great deal of talk from commentators about Northern Ireland needing to “raise more revenue”. Let’s be clear about what that means: new taxes.
Working families across the UK, including here in Northern Ireland, are already heavily taxed. They cannot afford to bear a greater tax burden. When some people say Northern Ireland should be doing more to generate revenue, they are suggesting we further squeeze families who are already struggling to make ends meet. That is not something we, as a party, will support.
For instance, a 10% rise in domestic rates in Northern Ireland would raise an additional £75 million. While that may sound like a large sum, let’s put it in context. Our Health Service, which is at breaking point, costs £19 million per day to run. That means the entire additional revenue from a 10% rate hike would be spent in less than four days. That kind of increase, which would place more strain on families and individuals, simply doesn’t provide a sustainable solution.
What we need from the Government and from the Executive is a daily demonstration that our taxes are being used properly. Before asking hard-working families to contribute even more, the Government must ensure that every pound spent is delivering results.
There must be a critical recalibration within the Civil Service where they recognise that money alone will not fix our waiting lists or solve the crisis in our health system. Taxpayers demand value for money. They support public sector workers being properly paid but they want to see greater efficiency in their services.
Reform is essential. The Health Minister needs to bring forward a detailed plan for reforming our Health Service, not just pouring more money into a broken system.
Next week, our Health spokesperson, Diane Dodds, will be publishing the DUP’s ideas for tackling the waiting lists in Northern Ireland. One of the proposals we are putting forward is to look at working with the independent sector. This need not be big business. There are many non-profit hospitals in the United States that could potentially set up operations here to help us reduce waiting times. We need innovative solutions to address the current crisis.
Finally, I want to touch on a very worrying trend we are seeing with this Labour government.
They have already made the argument to remove the universality of the Winter Fuel Payment. This move impacts some of the most vulnerable members of our society. But let’s not be naïve – this same logic could be used to attack free access to all areas of the NHS. Is that the next step?
With a government holding such a large majority, we cannot be complacent. The removal of universal access, once started, is a slippery slope, and we must be vigilant in defending the protections our citizens rely on. We must be careful about government adjudicating on who can or cannot afford to heat their homes.
In conclusion, the DUP will continue to fight for a better deal for Northern Ireland, for working families, and for pensioners. We will not stand by as this Labour government unfairly targets those who can least afford it. We will continue to demand reform, transparency, and accountability in how public funds are spent, and we will never waver in our commitment to a fair and just society.
Thank you.
