Loughgiel launch cuts campaign

North Antrim MLA Daithí McKay said: “The strategy day in Loughgiel was not only a great opportunity for Sinn Féin activists to engage in debate about politics at a local and national level but also to plan for the year ahead. Between now and Christmas Sinn Féin will be out on the doors in local towns and villages to engage with the public about the issues that matter to them and we will also be actively campaigning against the welfare cuts that have been proposed by the Tory administration in London.

“As we have seen in Britain already welfare cuts have plunged people with disabilities and working families into financial crisis. It will be worse in the north given our social demographic, and it will remove millions of potential spend from local shops and businesses. According to a recent report Moyle will be one of the council areas worst hit by these proposals and that will threaten jobs, increase poverty and increase the risk to people’s health including suicide.

“Scottish parties have mounted a consistent campaign opposing these cuts whilst here unionist parties seem happy to accept whatever the British Treasury tells them regardless of the impact that this will have on some of the poorest parts of this constituency whether that’s Bushmills, Ballycastle or Ballykeel. I am the only one of the six North Antrim MLAs that will be fighting to protect these communities from facing the brunt of these cuts and our local council teams will be leading the opposition to them in Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Ballycastle.”

Councillor Kieran Mulholland added: “I was very proud to welcome my North Antrim Sinn Féin colleagues to Loughgiel and the excellent facilities at the Millennium Centre, a fantastic example of what local communities can achieve through hard work.

“The clear message from our meeting is that the constituents in this area can look forward to more hard work from their Sinn Féin representatives. We are the party engaging with local community groups, clubs, and citizens. Also in attendance were several members of our growing youth committee; the new ideas and passion that young people add to our organisation is a great asset to us.”