Stormont £1.5bn funding package is final offer, says UK
Sir Chris Bryant gives Northern Ireland parties until noon next Thursday to accept a £1.5bn funding package, stating there is no more money.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Sir Chris Bryant labels the £1.5bn funding package as the final financial offer.
- Northern Ireland executive parties face a deadline of noon next Thursday to agree on a budget.
- The UK government maintains there is no further funding available due to tight public finances.
- Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins argues Northern Ireland has been underfunded for over a decade.
Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant has declared that an approximate £1.5bn financial package spanning the next three years is the final offer available, insisting there is no additional funding on the table. The UK government is urging the Northern Ireland Executive to reach a consensus and finalize a budget after a delay of roughly six months since the financial year was supposed to begin.
Earlier this month, Bryant put forward an initial proposal of £1.1bn before increasing it to the £1.5bn figure, which includes an extra £450m for day-to-day pressures this year, alongside £400m for each of the 2027/28 and 2028/29 periods. However, executive parties have rejected the terms, asserting that significant gaps persist and that the proposal falls short of what is necessary to establish a working budget.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Speaking to BBC Newsline, Bryant stated that he has given executive parties until noon next Thursday to present a concrete plan for agreeing on a budget for the current year and the subsequent two years. He stressed the severe financial constraints faced by the UK government and expressed a preference for collaborating with local parties rather than legislating a budget directly from Westminster.
"There is no more money. The financial situation in the UK government at the moment is very, very tight."
Sir Chris Bryant
The budgetary deadlock at Stormont highlights the persistent friction between central government in London and devolved authorities regarding public sector funding parity. Independent oversight bodies such as the NI Fiscal Council have noted that Northern Ireland's funding sits at or slightly below assessed need, contrasting with Scotland and Wales, which receive allocations above their evaluated requirements, further complicating local revenue generation debates.
In response, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins contended that Northern Ireland has suffered from underfunding for over ten years. Citing findings from the NI Fiscal Council that Scotland and Wales are funded above assessed need while Northern Ireland remains at or below it, she challenged the Secretary of State to be realistic rather than pressuring local politicians through media appearances.
Bryant added that the executive would eventually need to look into raising additional local revenue, though he clarified it was not his role to dictate specific tax or fee mechanisms to local ministers, noting he had not explicitly raised the introduction of water charges during meetings.
Source: BBC Politics
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