"We need to have economic growth in Northern Ireland. We need to have economic growth across the UK. These types of fiscal events are an opportunity to try to get that economic growth to support businesses. You don't get economic growth by taxing those who work more. You don't get economic growth by putting more and more cost on to businesses. So we do feel it was a missed opportunity."
"We wanted to see, not least, that VAT reduction pilot for Northern Ireland, the issues with agricultural relief, the changes that had been proposed, and we want to see that reversed in this budget. So there were a number of key things that didn't happen."
"I said publicly before I came here, that I would put directly to the prime minister the anger that's out there among many families and households that are really struggling to meet the food bills, that are really struggling with the cost of living crisis, and I feel that this budget was a missed opportunity."
First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly met Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the British Irish Council in Cardiff and criticised the chancellor's budget. The budget included an extra £370m for Northern Ireland, but the ministers said it failed to deliver measures needed to stimulate economic growth. They called for a VAT reduction pilot for Northern Ireland, reversal of proposed changes to agricultural relief, and measures to support businesses. The ministers warned that taxing workers and increasing costs on businesses undermines growth and highlighted widespread household struggles with food bills and the cost of living crisis.
Read at www.bbc.com
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