Call For Financial Support For Working Families

The SDLP is calling for financial support for working families dealing with the cost of living crisis.

Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan said that many working families are in desperate need of support and have been being failed by the lack of Assembly and Executive.

Mr Durkan said: "The money being issued to people on welfare across the North will provide an important short-term lifeline to many who are struggling to get by as a result of the cost of living crisis. Along with the second payment in the autumn it will provide breathing space for families at an incredibly difficult time, in the midst of further price hikes all around us.

"While all support is welcome, it's important to stress that it’s not just those on welfare who are struggling. Of course we should prioritise support for the most vulnerable people in our society, but working families are also finding it extremely tough. We are regularly hearing stories about people who are working 40-hour weeks, everyone from nurses to retail staff, who are being left with very little from their wages and are struggling to put food on the table and petrol in their cars.

"Nobody who needs help should be excluded from this support, though at best it is a sticking plaster to the problems people are experiencing and we need to examine ways of dealing with this crisis in the long-term. The SDLP has repeatedly attempted to introduce emergency legislation to unlock the hundreds of millions of pounds currently languishing at Stormont, but regrettably the DUP's continued blockade of our institutions has prevented us from using it to help people. We cannot allow the public to be victims of our toxic politics and every party should be making supporting everyone through this emergency their top priority."

Sinn Féin MP John Finucane has said it is time for the DUP to work with other parties to support workers and families struggling with the cost of living crisis.

He said: "There are many other workers and families who are struggling to put food on the table or heat their homes as a result of the soaring prices of food, fuel and energy.

"The British government need to make the big companies who are making a fortune shoulder the burden, not ordinary people, through meaningful taxes on huge profits and by cutting VAT.

"We also need an Executive up and running to use the £435 million languishing in the Executive’s bank account to help support workers, families and businesses who currently are not getting any support.

"That requires a functioning Executive and I urge the DUP to end its boycott of the Executive immediately and work with the rest of us to support the people we represent and help tackle the problems in our health service.|"