Pat Doherty MP in London to highlight concerns on welfare cuts

Sinn Fein

DohertySinn Fein MP Pat Doherty was in Westminster this week to brief MPs on Sinn Féin’s concerns regarding welfare cuts. Mr Doherty also briefed Labour Shadow Secretary of State Ivan Lewis and media outlets on a range of issues presently frustrating the political process
Mr Doherty said:
“I was in London this week to raise with MPs, Sinn Féin’s growing concerns over the insistence of the British government to implement its austerity agenda in the North. Sinn Fein has been consistently clear in our opposition to austerity and the so-called “welfare reform’ program. This has already had disastrous consequences for the living standards of ordinary people in Britain.
I would ask why any other party in the Executive would wish to introduce such a problematic system into the North. What is required is the fiscal autonomy to determine our own economic model based on the specific circumstances pertaining in the North of Ireland. The functions of the Executive and Assembly cannot simply be about implementing British Tory-led government policies.
Austerity and cuts damage public services, undermine the welfare state, increase levels of child poverty and hinder economic recovery. We are opposed to this.”