Write a commentAll parties must support innovative and radical ways to protect those in need.
SDLP Assembly Member Dominic Bradley has called on fellow MLAs from every party in Newry and Armagh to support Social Development Minister Alex Attwood in his bid to protect the vulnerable and needy from the worst elements of Tory welfare reforms.
Mr Bradley said that at a time of widespread financial difficulty being suffered by so many in Newry and Armagh, the Stormont Executive must be radical and innovative in its efforts to protect them. Mr Bradley, Newry and Armagh MLA, said: “Those people in my own constituency of Newry and Armagh who are in desperate need should not have to face four or five hundred million pounds of benefit cuts as a result of the Tory-led Coalition’s welfare reforms.
“I know the Minister for Social Development is trying to be radical in his department in order to identify alternative sources of funding to make up for these cuts. “However, the SDLP believe that the one value that is non-negotiable and that we cannot compromise on is that people who are in need or disadvantaged – the tens of thousands of people who are legitimately on benefits – should be protected.
“This principle should be endorsed by every member and every party in the Assembly, no matter what party they belong to. This issue is far to important to the future of those residents of Newry and Armagh who are genuinely struggling for it to be used for selfish political point scoring. “The SDLP are not opposed to welfare reform and we endorse simplified processes, improved systems and supportive measures that bring people who are capable of work back into gainful employment. “But we stand against welfare reform that is simply about slashing benefits because the problem in Northern Ireland is very often lack of work not lack of work ethic.
“Yes, there will be people out there who will work the system to their own personal benefit, but there are thousands of others who are on benefits because they are not capable of work because of their medical, physical and emotional condition. “There should be a consensus in Northern Ireland that we oppose the ferocity and severity of benefit cuts that are coming.
“The Minister for Social Development has made it quite clear this week that people rushing headlong into breaching parity was thoughtless folly. “But we should support his efforts to push the limits of parity and seek opportunities for operational flexibility and identify scope to slow down the British government plans. “The DUP rather than making outlandish claims based on false assumptions should help come up with solutions.
“Our Executive now needs to demonstrate that when people are going to be in greater need over the next number of years, that we do more to protect those people through radical and innovative means.”
