Stormont budget: NI needs ‘reasonable and fair funding package’

The deputy first minister says a “balanced and reasonable” budget cannot be reached in Northern Ireland unless the government gives Stormont more money.

Emma Little-Pengelly said the executive will meet the secretary of state on Friday and “put across the best possible case for fair funding”.

The executive has not agreed a budget for this year, blaming the UK’s devolution funding formula for leaving it short. Additional funding of about £1.5bn would be released in three tranches, with £525m available this year.

Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant, who has said there was “no more money” available, earlier this week accused executive ministers of being financially “irresponsible”.

But Emma Little-Pengelly said Northern Ireland the executive “simply cannot legally reach a balanced budget with what is on the table”.

“I’m asking the UK government to come forward with a reasonable and fair funding package,” the DUP deputy first told BBC’s The View programme.

She added: “We have reached out to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State because we are at that stage, now seven months into the financial year without a budget.”