Northern 'Cash Cuts' Played-Down

The Conservative and Ulster Unionist partnership is facing a flood of criticism over ill-timed comments by the British Conservative leader.

Although Tory boss, David Cameron has denied that he intending to target Northern Ireland for severe spending cuts should the Conservatives make up the next Government, a local politician has disagreed with his overall interpretation of the local economy.

The SDLP Finance Spokesperson and North Antrim candidate Declan O'Loan rejected the statement by David Cameron that public spending in Northern Ireland is "too high".

His comments came as the 'PM-in-waiting' told today's Belfast Telegraph that re-shaping the economy would be "a long term project".

Instead he said that his interview with Jeremy Paxman on BBC 1 on Friday - when Mr Cameron said Northern Ireland was a place where government spending must go down in proportion to the private sector - was instead a call to focus on promoting enterprise and providing what he called a "bigger, richer society".

"In Northern Ireland it is quite clear, almost every party, I think, accepts that the size of the state has got too big, we need a bigger private sector," he said.

UUP leader Sir Reg Empey also backed Mr Cameron, and said it was important to encourage growth across the economy.

"We want to build a vibrant private sector to take up the slack and create real and meaningful jobs," he said and insisted, "There will be no slash and burn policy here."

The SDLP's Declan O'Loan remains unconvinced though and said: "The Tories have shown their true colours and it is clear that if they are elected they will set out to cut public spending heavily.

"They will call this rebalancing the economy but the effect will be serious cuts to frontline services. Already I am seeing frontline health posts not being filled when staff leave with consequent loss of service and declining staff morale.

"We do need to grow the private sector here through cutting corporation tax, but this must not be at the cost of the public sector."

SDLP South Belfast candidate Alasdair McDonnell also said Tory leader David Cameron has done some public service by exposing clearly what the real Northern Ireland issues are in this election.

He said: "Now we have it fair and square. Not only are we going to be in line for public spending cuts, but the Tories have nominated us for special treatment. The weak, the marginalised, the vulnerable and the low-paid public-sector workers who keep our services ticking over are being lined up for sacrifice and sectarian head-counting will not save them.

"From the start we said this was where we were going, that cuts and jobs were the real issues, but the Cameron clanger will have huge implications for other parties.

"Will Sir Reg Empey be sitting at the cabinet table when they take the knife to Michael McGimpsey's health budget which accounts for 50% of our devolved spend?" he said.

The DUP's Stormont Finance Minister Sammy Wilson said Mr Cameron's comments in the BBC interview suggested that Northern Ireland would suffer "disproportionate economic pain" under a Tory government.

"Whilst we recognise the state of UK finances and the need for Northern Ireland to do its bit in the future, nevertheless David Cameron should not be unfairly targeting the Northern Ireland taxpayer," he said.

Sinn Fein's Fermanagh and South Tyrone candidate Michelle Gildernew also condemned Mr Cameron's words.

"Communities right across the north cannot afford this reckless move to be implemented and it must be opposed," she said.

(BMcC/GK)