Protecting the Union 🇬🇧

Sinn Fein are pushing ahead with legislation to introduce payments to parents of children entitled to free school meals during school holidays, potentially costing more than £22 million annually. Supporting struggling families is important. But where is the money coming from? These are the same people constantly complaining that Northern Ireland doesn't receive enough money from the public purse, yet they are pushing through another multi-million-pound spending commitment without an agreed budget or credible funding plan. Alliance, as part of the Executive, need to explain the financial responsibility behind supporting this. And the SDLP, supposedly providing opposition and scrutiny, seem equally unwilling to challenge it. Too many politicians want to announce nice things, promise more free services and spend public money because it makes for a good headline. But nothing is free. Every pound ultimately has to be paid for by the taxpayer. Of course, public investment and properly funded support can benefit our economy and society. But it must be affordable, sustainable and deliver value. You cannot simply keep promising more while refusing to make the difficult decisions about how to pay for it. Hard-working families understand this. They budget, live within their means, face rising household bills, food costs and increased charges, and have to make difficult choices every week. They don't have the luxury of continually spending money they haven't got. Yet too many of our politicians seem happy to make commitments with other people's money, then blame everyone else when the finances don't add up. I am all for tackling waste, finding efficiencies and making better use of public money. But financial responsibility has to come first. Public money doesn't grow on trees. Taxpayers deserve politicians who understand that spending decisions have consequences. You cannot promise everything, take responsibility for nothing and expect somebody else to pick up the bill. That is no way to run a country.