SDLP councillor Brian Tierney has questioned Sinn Féin’s commitment to supporting struggling families dealing with soaring bills.
He was speaking after Sinn Féin councillors on Derry City and Strabane District Council rejected a call from the SDLP to extend the £200 energy support payment to all households.
SDLP councillors had bid to strengthen a motion calling for the restoration of the Executive to unlock £300m in funding to support struggling families.
The motion was made during an ill-tempered meeting of councillors.
Said Cllr Tierney: “Following this decision by Sinn Féin and other councillors to reject the SDLP’s call to extend the £200 energy support payment to all households, serious questions must be asked about the party’s commitment to supporting struggling families through the worst crisis in living memory.
“It’s inexplicable that they would reject our amendment that sought to do nothing but help people who need it.
“Families in our council area and right across the North are facing rises in the price of everything from food to fuel and many simply cannot keep up with the constant rises.
“People cannot heat their homes and the extension of this £200 to working families would provide a much-needed lifeline, especially as they have been given no support from Communities Minister Deidre Hargey thus far.
“Now is not the time for playing politics, we need to come together and explore every way we can to get people through this crisis.
“The SDLP is working on a number of proposals to put money in the pockets of those who need it and to unlock the £300m in funding currently unspent in the absence of an Executive.
“We’d all prefer the DUP to end their intransigence and do what’s right for our communities.
“But in the absence of common sense prevailing we need to pull together and do everything we can to support people as bills continue to rise.”
