DUP slams Stormont 'gesture politics' as minister accepts voting for free hospital car parking was a mistake
The DUP has hit out at other Executive parties for backing expensive polices they cannot pay for, saying they’re doing it in order to grab headlines and generate social media clips.
The comments from Gavin Robinson come after MLAs backed a Sinn Fein law to provide financial support to over 90,000 children in Northern Ireland who are in receipt of free school meals during school holidays, including summer, Christmas, Halloween, and mid-term breaks.
During the debate on the matter, education minister Paul Givan cited the Assembly’s passing of a law to provide free hospital car parking during the last mandate. It has been repeatedly pushed back because Stormont does not have the money to pay for it. He now says that was a mistake.
"I was in the Assembly and voted for the Bill that Sinn Féin brought through the House just before the election. I put my hand up for it, but I wish that I had not. It was a mistake that I did. That is why we deferred commencing that legislation once and will do so a second time”, Mr Givan said.
His party leader has hit out at Sinn Fein, Alliance and the Ulster Unionist Party over the school holiday meals – and their opposition to a call from the DUP to withdraw the current draft Climate Action Plan (CAP) and conduct a cost-benefit analysis of all net zero-related climate policies.
The UUP say they didn’t back the DUP’s motion as it would be illegal to withdraw the legally mandated CAP. Leader Jon Burrows has previously said climate goals should be “demanding but achievable” – saying they must be changed.
In an email to party faithful, Gavin Robinson said the other Executive parties “have backed both the summer meals proposals and refused to face up to net zero realities - knowing full well the financial consequences are unresolved”.
The East Belfast MP told DUP members: “They want the headlines. They want the social media clips. But when the bills arrive, it will not be their politicians who pay them. It will be the families, farmers and small businesses already struggling to get by.
“That is gesture politics. And it has a real cost”.