UK General Election 2017

[Milltown Row2]

The money
Infrastructure

    £200m per year for two years for York Street Interchange and other priorities (total £400m)
    £75m per year for two years for ultra-fast broadband (total £550m)
    Commitment on the future UK Shared Prosperity Fund
    Greater cooperation on economic growth
    Promoting Foreign Direct Investment
    Work towards devolution of Corporation Tax rates [how to give the money back? – Ed]
    City deals and Enterprise zones for NI
    Report on impact of VAT and APD on tourism
    £20m per year for five years to target severe deprivation (total £650m)

Health and education

    £50m per year for two years for immediate pressures (total £750m)
    £100m per year for two years for Bengoa (total £200m)
    £10m per year for five years for mental health [what about autism? – Ed] (total £1bn)

Previous allocations

Any money left over from previous allocations [surely not – Ed] – apparently up to £500m – can be dispersed flexibly within this Spending Review Period.

Legacy

The UK Government to work with all parties towards the implementation of Stormont House for better outcomes for victims and survivors, and not to have an unfair focus on former members of the Armed Forces or the police.

Is that a better deal to what we (us in the North) have at the minute??

[Owen Brannigan]

The money
Infrastructure

    £200m per year for two years for York Street Interchange and other priorities (total £400m)
    £75m per year for two years for ultra-fast broadband (total £550m)
    Commitment on the future UK Shared Prosperity Fund
    Greater cooperation on economic growth
    Promoting Foreign Direct Investment
    Work towards devolution of Corporation Tax rates [how to give the money back? – Ed]
    City deals and Enterprise zones for NI
    Report on impact of VAT and APD on tourism
    £20m per year for five years to target severe deprivation (total £650m)

Health and education

    £50m per year for two years for immediate pressures (total £750m)
    £100m per year for two years for Bengoa (total £200m)
    £10m per year for five years for mental health [what about autism? – Ed] (total £1bn)

Previous allocations

Any money left over from previous allocations [surely not – Ed] – apparently up to £500m – can be dispersed flexibly within this Spending Review Period.

Legacy

The UK Government to work with all parties towards the implementation of Stormont House for better outcomes for victims and survivors, and not to have an unfair focus on former members of the Armed Forces or the police.

DUP drive home with the bacon.

Plus DUP has begun the end of austerity by providing cover for the Tory government against its right wing MPs.  Triple lock remains for pensions and no means testing of the winter fuel allowance for pensioners.

Was there someone who said that NI MPs have no influence on the UK government?

[Tony Baloney]

The money
Infrastructure

    £200m per year for two years for York Street Interchange and other priorities (total £400m)
    £75m per year for two years for ultra-fast broadband (total £550m)
    Commitment on the future UK Shared Prosperity Fund
    Greater cooperation on economic growth
    Promoting Foreign Direct Investment
    Work towards devolution of Corporation Tax rates [how to give the money back? – Ed]
    City deals and Enterprise zones for NI
    Report on impact of VAT and APD on tourism
    £20m per year for five years to target severe deprivation (total £650m)

Health and education

    £50m per year for two years for immediate pressures (total £750m)
    £100m per year for two years for Bengoa (total £200m)
    £10m per year for five years for mental health [what about autism? – Ed] (total £1bn)

Previous allocations

Any money left over from previous allocations [surely not – Ed] – apparently up to £500m – can be dispersed flexibly within this Spending Review Period.

Legacy

The UK Government to work with all parties towards the implementation of Stormont House for better outcomes for victims and survivors, and not to have an unfair focus on former members of the Armed Forces or the police.

DUP drive home with the bacon.

Plus DUP has begun the end of austerity by providing cover for the Tory government against its right wing MPs.  Triple lock remains for pensions and no means testing of the winter fuel allowance for pensioners.

Was there someone who said that NI MPs have no influence on the UK government?

And a £100 million loyalist slush social deprivation fund buying them votes and influence for the foreseeable future. Not too shabby.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

Have the dinosaurs played well here?

/Jim.

[weareros]

The orange leprechauns got their pot o'gold.

[armaghniac]

Have the dinosaurs played well here?

/Jim.

In the short term possibly.

However, there are a few problems.
- fighting austerity is all very fine, but Brexit has tanked economic growth and the likes of Nissan will be along looking for help if it goes ahead. Where does the money come for all this? 
- bringing attention to the level of public spending in NI may be not be good long term strategy, especially as they will carefully avoid any actual analysis of what is actually different or what is actually needed in NI.
- the DUP supported Brexit, flying the flag and all that. They are now on the hook not only for the idea of Brexit but the detail of Brexit. There is a still a huge range of outcomes possible here, from disorderly chaos to staying in the EU. Several these outcomes might piss off elements of the DUP voter base.
- cue the marching season and some crass behaviour and the British press will have a field day
- linking with the Tories is dangerous, as the government may not last anyway.

[armaghniac]

[Applesisapples]

Well, lets see how this plays out. Only good for as long as May is PM. A couple of by-elections in a month or so will see it all end in tears.

[sensethetone]

The DUP could just buy Moy Park now rather than the state aid required though RHI to keep the price of chicken down.

[yellowcard]

Jeffrey Donaldson took smugness to new levels as he beamed with a self satisfied grin outside Downing Street today. They will be happy bunnies today but will a deal be struck before the week is out to restore power sharing. I doubt it myself, Sinn Fein will be very suspicious of some of the language in the Westmister deal while the DUP will not be too bothered now either now that they have the ear of the Tory government. Are those MLA's in Stormont still picking up their salaries since the last election?

[BennyCake]

Jeffrey Donaldson took smugness to new levels as he beamed with a self satisfied grin outside Downing Street today. They will be happy bunnies today but will a deal be struck before the week is out to restore power sharing. I doubt it myself, Sinn Fein will be very suspicious of some of the language in the Westmister deal while the DUP will not be too bothered now either now that they have the ear of the Tory government. Are those MLA's in Stormont still picking up their salaries since the last election?

Was the level at 'critical' or 'severe'?

[Owen Brannigan]

Are those MLA's in Stormont still picking up their salaries since the last election?

They certainly are but so also are the MLAs who lost their seats.  An MLA is still paid until they are replaced and because the new Assembly members have not been formally seated. 

Never mind RHI, imagine that for a total waste of money!

[yellowcard]

Jeffrey Donaldson took smugness to new levels as he beamed with a self satisfied grin outside Downing Street today. They will be happy bunnies today but will a deal be struck before the week is out to restore power sharing. I doubt it myself, Sinn Fein will be very suspicious of some of the language in the Westmister deal while the DUP will not be too bothered now either now that they have the ear of the Tory government. Are those MLA's in Stormont still picking up their salaries since the last election?

Was the level at 'critical' or 'severe'?

Off the Richter scale, if he was made of chocolate he would eat himself.

[yellowcard]

Are those MLA's in Stormont still picking up their salaries since the last election?

They certainly are but so also are the MLAs who lost their seats.  An MLA is still paid until they are replaced and because the new Assembly members have not been formally seated. 

Never mind RHI, imagine that for a total waste of money!

That's crazy, all salaries should be stopped until they get back to work. Most of them are getting as much again in expenses also.

[BennyCake]

Are those MLA's in Stormont still picking up their salaries since the last election?

They certainly are but so also are the MLAs who lost their seats.  An MLA is still paid until they are replaced and because the new Assembly members have not been formally seated. 

Never mind RHI, imagine that for a total waste of money!

No wonder they're all dragging their feet. I would too!