DUP Leader Urges Labour Govt To "Change Course" Following English Election Results

DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP has stated that the results of the recent Local Government elections in England, along with the Runcorn by-election, should compel the Labour Government to reflect on its policy decisions, particularly concerning winter fuel payments, national insurance hikes, the taxation of family farms, and illegal immigration. 

Mr Robinson said: "The Government must change course. I have urged them to do so for many months, but the electorate across England have now delivered that message loud and clear." 

He specifically criticised several government policies: "Labour must understand that by deliberately targeting pensioners through the unjustifiable cut to the Winter Fuel Payment, they risk alienating hundreds of thousands of older voters who relied on this support to stay warm during the winter months."

"Furthermore," he continued, "the unnecessary and harmful changes to employers through the national insurance hike has placed jobs at risk and the inheritance tax on family farms has threatened the very fabric of our rural communities. These decisions highlight just how disconnected Labour has become from the people and the issues that matter most to them."

On the issue of immigration, Mr Robinson stated: "It is also clear that there is widespread unease over the continued failure of successive Governments to deal effectively with illegal immigration. While the UK should remain a place of refuge for those in genuine need, the current scale of illegal immigration far exceeds this remit and is placing unsustainable pressure on housing and public services."

The DUP Leader concluded: "The message from the electorate cannot be ignored. People are demanding common sense and a Government that listens. Labour should take heed, change its approach, and begin to govern in the interests of all."

SDLP Welcomes Commitment To Report On Waiting List Plan Results

SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has welcomed a commitment from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to provide clear, regular updates on the effectiveness of his newly announced plan to tackle Northern Ireland's extensive health waiting lists.

The Minister has confirmed he will publish a monthly report detailing the progress of the initiatives, which include a reimbursement scheme for patients seeking treatment in the Republic of Ireland and a £50 million investment to address backlogs.

South Down MLA Mr McGrath said: "Any investment in our health service is to be welcomed. Our waiting lists are among the worst in Europe, with some people spending years waiting for much-needed treatment with terrible consequences for their physical and mental health. In that context this £50m must be welcomed, but it will take a considerably larger sum and full health service transformation to tackle the underlying causes for these long waiting lists.”  However, while welcoming the commitment to transparency, Mr McGrath voiced several concerns regarding the plan. "The only way we can judge the success or failure of this plan is through results," he stated. "We cannot continue to rely on outside health providers over whom we have no control and this plan also wishes to repurpose existing staff at a time when many are already at the point of burn out and trusts are being asked to make further savings.”

On the reintroduction of cross-border healthcare, a long-standing SDLP call, Mr McGrath raised concerns about the proposed reimbursement model. "While the return of cross-border healthcare is welcome... we are also concerned that people are being asked to pay upfront and then be reimbursed. Nobody's access to healthcare should depend on how much money they have," he asserted. 

The SDLP Health Spokesperson also highlighted issues with accessing current data due to the new Encompass IT system. "To complicate matters, with the new encompass system now in place we cannot even access up to date figures of waiting times, waiting lists or even the number of beds in the system. In the Assembly today I asked the Minister to urgently address this and welcome his recognition of the existing issues."

He concluded: "It's not enough to make repeated commitments to addressing the waiting lists crisis – we need to see the results.”

Alliance MLAs Welcome New Designated Bathing Waters

Alliance representatives Connie Egan MLA and Andrew McMurray MLA have welcomed the announcement that seven new bathing waters have been added to the list of officially designated sites in Northern Ireland.

The decision was announced by Alliance Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Andrew Muir, following water quality monitoring of the sites over two bathing seasons. The newly designated sites are Brompton Bay, Donaghadee Harbour, Cushendall, Drains Bay, Portmuck, Rea's Wood (Lough Neagh), and Warrenpoint (Sandy Bottom).

North Down MLA Connie Egan said: "Brompton Bay and Donaghadee Harbour are very popular with sea swimmers and this news will be hugely welcomed by local groups like 'Brompton Belles & Beaux' and 'Donaghadee Chunky Dunkers'."

She added: "We are lucky to have so many bathing sites already in North Down and a thriving sea swimming community. It's fantastic to see so many people taking the plunge, both locally and across Northern Ireland, and these two new bathing waters will be enjoyed widely."

South Down MLA Andrew McMurray also welcomed the news, particularly for his constituency. "I welcome that Warrenpoint Sandy Bottom is now an official bathing site, adding to existing swimming spots in South Down," he said.

"The site is already well-loved by sea swimmers and water sports enthusiasts and the new status will mean that regular monitoring of water quality will continue during the bathing season. Given the explosion in popularity of sea swimming in recent years, it's important we are testing frequently and passing this information on to users so they can make informed decisions about water quality."

Mr McMurray added: "I am looking forward to the upcoming review of bathing waters that Minister Muir has committed to under Northern Ireland's Environmental Improvement Plan which may consider the potential for further expansion of the season and bathing waters."