Stormont budget being set in London would be ‘profound failure’ – O’Toole

A Stormont budget being set in London would be a “profound failure” by both the Executive and the UK Government, Opposition leader Matthew O’Toole has said.

Northern Ireland’s powersharing government passed the six-month mark without a budget for the current financial year last week.

Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant previously said he had asked officials to consider “contingency plans” around a budget for the region.

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant has asked officials to consider ‘contingency plans’ (Liam McBurney/PA)

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Mr O’Toole, of the SDLP, said it would be a “profound failure of governance by the Executive and UK Government” if a Stormont budget was set in London, adding that it “should not be contemplated”.

It comes as Stormont ministers across the Executive are in agreement that they believe the current financial settlement from the UK Government is not sufficient.

London has made a financial offer slightly above £1.5 billion over the next three years in an effort to assist with balancing Stormont’s budget.

The Executive is expected to meet on Thursday, but DUP leader Gavin Robinson suggested that meeting could happen as early as Tuesday morning.

Speaking to media at Parliament Buildings on Monday morning, Mr Robinson said he thinks it is “important that it does happen”.

Mr O’Toole said he has secured an urgent oral question to Finance Minister John O’Dowd.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna and Official Opposition leader Matthew O’Toole speak to the media at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, in Belfast (Rebecca Black/PA)

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“People want to see a resolution to the Garvaghy issue but we can’t forget that there is a law which says we’re supposed to pass a budget, we’re six months into the new financial year and there is no budget,” he said.

“It means public services continue to get worse, and there can be no action to help people meaningfully with the spiralling fuel prices.

“Showing up and taking responsibility does mean governing this place too, and we need to be cognisant of not pushing this place into further crisis.

“I have submitted an urgent question, which has been accepted, today to the Finance Minister to ask where the budget is, when it is going to be concluded and where we go from here, because walking away from that responsibility would be extremely grave and only fail our citizens even more.”