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| Belfast leaders criticise Cameron’s ‘inadequate’ £1bn offer | Belfast leaders criticise Cameron’s ‘inadequate’ £1bn offer |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron flew out of Belfast today with a chorus of criticism over his handling of failed peace talks ringing in his ears as Stormont party leaders lined up to condemn his contribution. | David Cameron flew out of Belfast today with a chorus of criticism over his handling of failed peace talks ringing in his ears as Stormont party leaders lined up to condemn his contribution. |
| Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams derided the talks as the “most amateurish ham-fisted episode I have ever been involved in”, while other party leaders criticised the Prime Minister’s pledge of £1bn of extra spending powers for the power-sharing administration if ministers could forge an agreement on the budgetary and legacy issues that continue to destabilise the institutions. | Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams derided the talks as the “most amateurish ham-fisted episode I have ever been involved in”, while other party leaders criticised the Prime Minister’s pledge of £1bn of extra spending powers for the power-sharing administration if ministers could forge an agreement on the budgetary and legacy issues that continue to destabilise the institutions. |
| Stormont’s First Minister Peter Robinson, of the Democratic Unionist Party, and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, of Sinn Fein, both questioned the credibility of Mr Cameron’s offer, insisting hardly any new money was on the table. | Stormont’s First Minister Peter Robinson, of the Democratic Unionist Party, and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, of Sinn Fein, both questioned the credibility of Mr Cameron’s offer, insisting hardly any new money was on the table. |
| Mr Robinson said the package was not adequate, declaring: “I think if he wants to bribe us, to bribe us with our own money comes a bit short of what’s required.” | Mr Robinson said the package was not adequate, declaring: “I think if he wants to bribe us, to bribe us with our own money comes a bit short of what’s required.” |
| Prime Minister David Cameron greets Irish politicians as they arrive at Stormont House, Belfast, ahead of political talks with local politicians | |
| Mr McGuinness added: “Whatever you have been told by the British Prime Minister, there was no credible financial package offered to the Executive ministers to allow us to combat the austerity agenda that this British Government has been inflicting on us over the course of the last four and a half years.” Most of the local parties expressed various degrees of disgruntlement, having hoped that Mr Cameron would help tackle their financial tangles. | Mr McGuinness added: “Whatever you have been told by the British Prime Minister, there was no credible financial package offered to the Executive ministers to allow us to combat the austerity agenda that this British Government has been inflicting on us over the course of the last four and a half years.” Most of the local parties expressed various degrees of disgruntlement, having hoped that Mr Cameron would help tackle their financial tangles. |
| Mr Cameron said progress had been made but that intensive work needed to be done between the parties “to make sure that the budget of the Northern Ireland parties is sustainable and works”. | Mr Cameron said progress had been made but that intensive work needed to be done between the parties “to make sure that the budget of the Northern Ireland parties is sustainable and works”. |
| He said £1bn of spending power could be offered to the Executive, but that a comprehensive agreement would be needed to release it, rather than “simply some words about these issues”. | He said £1bn of spending power could be offered to the Executive, but that a comprehensive agreement would be needed to release it, rather than “simply some words about these issues”. |
| The local parties are to continue with talks on finance and issues including flag disputes and marching controversies. | The local parties are to continue with talks on finance and issues including flag disputes and marching controversies. |
| Mr Cameron said: “The real work that still needs to be done is to make sure that the budget of the Northern Ireland Executive is sustainable and works, so intensive work needs to be done between the parties on that issue.” | Mr Cameron said: “The real work that still needs to be done is to make sure that the budget of the Northern Ireland Executive is sustainable and works, so intensive work needs to be done between the parties on that issue.” |