Sinn Féin's Daithí McKay has called on the DUP, Ulster Unionists and the Alliance Party to spend a week living on welfare benefits as part of his party's opposition to the introduction of welfare reform in Northern Ireland.

The statement comes as a result of those parties' overall support of welfare reform from Westminster.

Daithí McKay said: "UUP, DUP and Alliance ministers are quick to demand we implement Tory cuts to the benefits of those on low incomes, people with disabilities and the unemployed.

"Would they be so enthusiastic if they were facing reductions to their own incomes or had to live on the pittance allocated to the poorest and most vulnerable in our society. Welfare cuts have forced tens of thousands of people in England into increased poverty, homelessness, desperation and in some cases suicide.

"Could any of the politicians advocating welfare cuts survive on the income they want to give to the disabled and the unemployed? I am challenging, Simon Hamilton, David Ford, Stephen Farry and Danny Kennedy to spend just one week on the incomes they expect others to live on.

"I doubt very much they could do so but perhaps this experience would open their eyes to the real impact of welfare cuts."

(IT/JP)