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| Minister announces pay cut for Stormont assembly members | Minister announces pay cut for Stormont assembly members |
| (21 days later) | |
| Members of the Stormont assembly will see their pay slashed after 19 months without devolved government, the Northern Ireland secretary has said, as she announced a series of measures intended to restart the power-sharing process. | Members of the Stormont assembly will see their pay slashed after 19 months without devolved government, the Northern Ireland secretary has said, as she announced a series of measures intended to restart the power-sharing process. |
| Their pay would fall from £49,500 to £35,888 in November, with another reduction of £6,187 three months later, if the assembly did not resume its work, Karen Bradley told MPs, adding that this was because they were not undertaking their full duties. | Their pay would fall from £49,500 to £35,888 in November, with another reduction of £6,187 three months later, if the assembly did not resume its work, Karen Bradley told MPs, adding that this was because they were not undertaking their full duties. |
| Bradley ruled out immediate elections for the devolved assembly, which has not operated since power sharing between the DUP and Sinn Féin collapsed in January last year, and announced plans for civil servants to have more powers to implement policies. | Bradley ruled out immediate elections for the devolved assembly, which has not operated since power sharing between the DUP and Sinn Féin collapsed in January last year, and announced plans for civil servants to have more powers to implement policies. |
| The pay cut idea was introduced by Bradley’s predecessor James Brokenshire. The reduction timetable was devised by Trevor Reaney, clerk to the assembly. | The pay cut idea was introduced by Bradley’s predecessor James Brokenshire. The reduction timetable was devised by Trevor Reaney, clerk to the assembly. |
| It would not affect staff members, Bradley told the Commons, “as I do not think that MLAs’ staff should suffer because of the politicians’ failure to form an executive”. | It would not affect staff members, Bradley told the Commons, “as I do not think that MLAs’ staff should suffer because of the politicians’ failure to form an executive”. |
| Bradley told MPs that Northern Ireland was suffering the effects of not having a functioning devolved government, with talks to restore it foundering over issues such as legal recognition for the Irish language. | Bradley told MPs that Northern Ireland was suffering the effects of not having a functioning devolved government, with talks to restore it foundering over issues such as legal recognition for the Irish language. |
| “As significant decisions are taken at this critical time, Northern Ireland’s voice must be heard,” Bradley said. “With new powers coming back from Brussels and flowing to Stormont, Northern Ireland needs an executive in place to use those powers to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.” | “As significant decisions are taken at this critical time, Northern Ireland’s voice must be heard,” Bradley said. “With new powers coming back from Brussels and flowing to Stormont, Northern Ireland needs an executive in place to use those powers to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.” |
| She added: “Critical cross-cutting programmes – addressing social deprivation, tackling paramilitarism – are stalling following 19 months without devolved government. | She added: “Critical cross-cutting programmes – addressing social deprivation, tackling paramilitarism – are stalling following 19 months without devolved government. |
| “As this impasse continues, public services are suffering. Businesses are suffering. The people of Northern Ireland are suffering. Local decision-making is urgently needed to address this.” | “As this impasse continues, public services are suffering. Businesses are suffering. The people of Northern Ireland are suffering. Local decision-making is urgently needed to address this.” |
| As well as the pay cut, Bradley said she would remove the legal requirement to set a new election date, and allow an executive to be formed at any time in this period. | As well as the pay cut, Bradley said she would remove the legal requirement to set a new election date, and allow an executive to be formed at any time in this period. |
| In the absence of political direction, new legislation would also include measures to allow civil servants “to continue to take decisions in Northern Ireland in the public interest and to ensure the continued delivery of public services”, she said. | In the absence of political direction, new legislation would also include measures to allow civil servants “to continue to take decisions in Northern Ireland in the public interest and to ensure the continued delivery of public services”, she said. |
| She said she would spend coming weeks in fresh discussions with the Northern Ireland parties and the Irish government in an attempt to end the deadlock. | She said she would spend coming weeks in fresh discussions with the Northern Ireland parties and the Irish government in an attempt to end the deadlock. |
| Before her statement Bradley apologised to MPs for the fact parts of her statement had been reported by the BBC and others before she addressed MPs, seemingly because a news release was put out too early. | Before her statement Bradley apologised to MPs for the fact parts of her statement had been reported by the BBC and others before she addressed MPs, seemingly because a news release was put out too early. |
| The Speaker, John Bercow, said this was “very, very disappointing” and demanded Bradley ensure it did not happen again. | The Speaker, John Bercow, said this was “very, very disappointing” and demanded Bradley ensure it did not happen again. |
| Power sharing collapsed after Sinn Féin left the devolved government over a botched green energy scheme. Since then the impasse has centred on broader issues about the culture and language of the nationalist and unionist communities. | Power sharing collapsed after Sinn Féin left the devolved government over a botched green energy scheme. Since then the impasse has centred on broader issues about the culture and language of the nationalist and unionist communities. |
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| Northern Irish politics | Northern Irish politics |
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| Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland |
| Karen Bradley | Karen Bradley |
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