Mulholland Urges Assembly Unity Against "Draconian" Welfare Cuts

Alliance Communities spokesperson Sian Mulholland MLA has called on the Northern Ireland Assembly to unite in opposition to what she describes as Labour's "draconian" welfare cuts.

Speaking ahead of an Assembly motion on Tuesday, Ms Mulholland stressed the need to protect local disabled people from being disadvantaged by new employability support plans.

Alliance is set to bring a motion to the Assembly urging the UK government to abandon its planned benefit cuts and establish a UK-wide commission to address the barriers faced by sick and disabled individuals seeking employment.

Ms Mulholland, who represents North Antrim, stated that her office had been "overwhelmed by constituents worried they are going to be pushed further into hardship" since the UK government's announcement of the benefit reforms. She added that she believed colleagues across all parties had experienced similar concerns from their constituents, highlighting the "genuine fear out there."

The MLA criticised the focus of the cuts, suggesting that the UK government was "deliberately targeting the most vulnerable" instead of pursuing alternative revenue sources such as increased taxes on "billionaires or taxing extreme wealth."

Ms Mulholland also raised concerns that while people in Northern Ireland would bear the full impact of the announced cuts, they would not directly benefit from the £1 billion the UK government intends to invest in England to improve employment opportunities for disabled people. In addition to calling for a reversal of the cuts, Alliance is urging the Communities Minister to collaborate with his UK counterparts to establish a UK-wide commission focused on tackling economic inactivity and removing obstacles for disabled individuals seeking employment.

Ms Mulholland confirmed that she had written to the Secretary of State to emphasise Northern Ireland's unique circumstances and the potentially "devastating" impact of the proposed changes. She concluded by stressing the importance of Assembly unity on the issue, stating: "It is vital the Assembly comes together and sends a strong message none of this is acceptable. A change in course is desperately needed to avoid more and more disabled people being pushed into poverty, hunger and hardship." 

The text of Alliance's Assembly motion is as follows: 'That this Assembly opposes the approach of the UK Government to reforming disability benefits; believes that withdrawing or cutting social security support for those most in need risks exacerbating poverty and increasing pressure on other public services; agrees that there are other, more progressive ways to generate additional money for government, including tax increases for the super-wealthy; calls on the UK Government to reconsider the punitive elements of its proposals and ensure fairness and dignity for those requiring welfare support; and further calls on the Minister for Communities to work with the UK Government on the establishment of a UK-wide commission to develop holistic, cross-departmental proposals for addressing economic inactivity among those with long-term illnesses and disabilities.'