Green Party Believes Budget Is Baby Step Forward

The UK Budget announcement was a 'baby step' in the right direction but there is still plenty of work to be done, according to Northern Ireland's Green Party.

It was announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Wednesday that the NI Executive would receive £1.5bn in increase funding for 2025-26 as well as the City Deals for Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid South West regions, which were previously paused upon a spending review, were to go ahead.

However, Green Party NI Leader, Senator Mal O’Hara, believes the budget displays "a serious lack of ambition" in other areas. "The unpausing of the growth deals in Northern Ireland is finally getting in motion a positive programme for our communities, as well as the increase in funding of £1.5B to the Northern Ireland Executive giving us space to invest in our public services," he said.

"But there is a serious lack of ambition in this budget in delivering the radical change we so desperately need.

"Marginal changes to the tax base will not have the impact that a strong wealth tax could have on revitalising this country.

"We need redistribution of the vast wealth in this country, not a continuation of austerity light."