Three-year draft budget for Executive backed by majority vote

By Q Radio News/PA

The Stormont Executive has approved, by majority vote, a three-year draft budget proposed by Finance Minister Conor Murphy.

The Stormont ministers met on Friday morning via a virtual meeting in a bid to resolve a stand-off over the Executive budget.

It is understood Sinn Fein, the SDLP, the Ulster Unionists and Alliance voted to back the plan at a virtual meeting on Friday morning, while the DUP voted against it.

The budget plan is set to see funding cut to several departments as Mr Murphy has sought to prioritise spending on the under-pressure health system in Northern Ireland.

BREAKING: The Executive has approved, by majority vote, Finance Minister Conor Murphy’s draft three year budget, @PA understands. Sinn Fein, the SDLP, UUP & Alliance voted to back the plan while the DUP voted against it. The proposals will now go out for a public consultation. pic.twitter.com/QENKtJ7wL2

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) December 10, 2021

With the Assembly due to be dissolved at the end of March ahead of the next Assembly election, Mr Murphy had to commence the consultation exercise before Christmas.

Prior to the vote, Mr Murphy said he wanted the plan to go out as an agreed Executive budget.

However, it is understood the DUP, Alliance and SDLP had said they would rather it be presented as a Department of Finance budget.

Mr Murphy wanted the backing of his ministerial colleagues before sending the draft three-year spending plan out for public consultation - which is what he received on Friday morning.

However, before the budget can be finalised and agreed by the Executive and Assembly, it must be subjected to a 12-week public consultation exercise.

(Finance Minister Conor Murphy)