Ritchie slams Iain Duncan Smith for dismissive comments over welfare reform

SDLP MP for South Down Margaret Ritchie has lambasted Iain Duncan Smith’s response to her question about the implementation of welfare reform measures in Northern Ireland.

Speaking following this week’s Urgent Question on Universal Credit in the House of Commons Ritchie stated, “Given the shambles in implementing Universal Credit in England, Iain Duncan Smith’s glib dismissal of my concerns about Northern Ireland is completely unacceptable.

“He should listen to our concerns rather than attempt to force these measures on us. A British government who have had to write off £41m in designing their IT system and whose entire ‘digital first’ programme of reform is in doubt are in no position to lecture the Northern Ireland Executive.

“We will continue to stand up for the poor and the vulnerable rather than treat them as an obstacle to be stepped over.

Ritchie added, What I predicted some months ago at Prime Ministers Questions has unfortunately proven to be true- this government’s welfare programme is not just unfair, it is unworkable.”

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Posted by Newry Times News on Dec 16 2013. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry