Northern politicians clash on health, Stormont stability and Irish unity in TV debateBy Gráinne Ní Aodha and David Young, PANorthern Ireland politicians clashed on health service funding, the stability of Stormont and the merits of Irish unity in the second major TV debate of the Westminster election campaign. The opening exchanges of the BBC NI debate focused on the recent controversy around the allocation to health in this year’s Stormont budget. All other main parties of the Executive – Sinn Féin, DUP and Alliance – backed the spending plan, with the main opposition party, the SDLP, opposing it. Mr Hazzard said Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O’Neill was on the canvass trail while Mr Butler said UUP leader Doug Beattie had other diary commitments. Mr Hazzard said Sinn Féin had made “a commitment” to the people of Palestine to “be their voice in those places”.

Source: Irish Independent June 28, 2024 13:33 UTC