Locals were 'sold a pup' over Executive

SOUTH Antrim TUV spokesman Mel Lucas has given his withering verdict on the latest report on the work of Stormont.

The former councillor said it confirmed ‘what we already knew - that the Executive isn’t delivering’.

“The Pivotal Tracker report on the Northern Ireland Executive reveals that the people of Northern Ireland were sold a pup when they were told that a return of Stormont would deliver,” he said.

“For 18 months, the Protocol implementing Executive has been restored, yet this report confirms that the people are not seeing the results they were promised.

“Essential services are failing.

“Health waiting lists remain unacceptable, GP access is restricted and housing remains unaffordable. In fact, in many areas, things have worsened since the Executive was restored.

“The report is clear: the Executive has avoided difficult decisions, shunned collective responsibility, and failed to produce tangible plans for long-term challenges like wastewater infrastructure and productivity. Photoshoots have been plentiful. Substance has been absent.

“The people deserve governance that delivers. Stormont appears to be incapable of that.

“And at what point during the past 20 years would anyone say that it ever has been?

“It would appear that the only people who benefited from a return of a Protocol implementing executive are politicians, not the people.”