Debate contribution: Cost-of-living Crisis

Debate contribution by Mr Eóin Tennyson on 21 April 2026.

MLA

Mr Eóin Tennyson

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

21 April 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Cost-of-living Crisis

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5497551

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. There is no doubt that households, businesses, farmers, hauliers, domiciliary care workers and many others in our society are working themselves to the bone and are under enormous pressure as a direct consequence of Donald Trump's illegal war in Iran — a war that was foolishly cheerled by many Members. I agree with the leader of the Opposition that the response from the top of the Executive at the outbreak of that crisis was confused, slow and beset by bickering, point-scoring, blame shifting and obfuscation. There was a complete absence of the leadership that workers, families and businesses needed and demanded. We had the bizarre spectacle of the Communities Minister, whilst in Washington DC clinking glasses with Donald Trump and his cronies, blaming the Sinn Féin Economy Minister for not delivering the scheme on home heating oil and then later back-pedalling and accepting that it was the responsibility of his Department. The response has been confused and slow and has done little to bestow any confidence in the public about the DUP and Sinn Féin's ability to deliver in times of crisis.

I watched quite a lot of Members from both parties pointing fingers across the Chamber last week in the absence of any clarity on a scheme, so I stand over my assertion. We still have no clarity on how £81 million in annually managed expenditure (AME) money will be distributed to support people with their energy bills. The response from the Department for Communities and the Department for the Economy has been far too slow. The amendment seeks to acknowledge that, since the SDLP motion was laid, important progress has been made. I recognise the statement that was issued belatedly by the First Minister and deputy First Minister last week and the progress that was made belatedly by the Communities Minister in designing a scheme and bringing it to the Executive to seek agreement. It is significant and welcome that, even in the absence of action from the UK Government and even with the financial constraints that the Executive face, agreement was found on a scheme that will support 340,000 households that earn less than £30,000 and rely on home heating oil.

It is important to stress that the Executive do not have unlimited financial or fiscal power and that the UK Government should and could step up to deliver a cut in fuel duty, make changes to VAT, support people with their energy bills and extend the windfall taxes on big oil and gas companies, which are gouging and profiting off the backs of our struggling constituents. It is not only big oil and gas companies that are having a time of it at the moment. The Treasury is experiencing a windfall from increased tax revenues, and that cannot be forgotten. Whilst the UK Government and Keir Starmer are weak and distracted by their disgraceful handling of the Peter Mandelson affair, our constituents are being left to suffer and are struggling. We also cannot divorce this conversation from the conversation about fair funding for public services in Northern Ireland. I am sick, sore and tired of my constituents, who pay their National Insurance and tax and who, according to the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI), pay a greater proportion of tax than people in other parts of the UK for the quality of services that they get, being told that their representatives are simply going to London with a begging bowl when we know that Scotland and Wales receive considerably more funding, way above their level of need, than we do in this part of the UK. That inequality was acknowledged by the Tory Government and needs to be rectified by the Labour Government. It would be a sad indictment if Hilary Benn, Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer presided over underfunding of our public services that even the Tories conceded was unacceptable and should not continue. That is where I must diverge from the leader of the Opposition, because I think that it is right that parties take responsibility. In 2024, the leader of the Opposition's party stood on a manifesto that told the people of Northern Ireland that SDLP MPs are best placed to deliver change because they will have the strongest relationship with a new Labour Government. That party also said to voters in its manifesto, "Just imagine what we could do with a Labour Government who understand this place and listen to our MPs". Well, how the leader of the Opposition's tune has changed, and I would welcome his party speaking with one united voice, along with every other party in the Chamber, for the kind of intervention from the Labour Government that the people whom we represent deserve. This is not just about —

This is not just about —

The Members should cease their chuntering so that I can continue. This is not just about today's crisis; it is about how we make progress to insulate families from future shocks. It is about looking beyond our own narrow borders towards the EU to look at how, in a customs union and with closer alignment with the single market, the UK will have a stronger economy that will strengthen the UK Government's hands to support people through this crisis. It is about rejecting the culture war nonsense that we have heard in the Chamber. Members have risen to their feet and said, "Oh, the rising energy bills are nothing to do with Trump's illegal war. It is because of that woke renewable nonsense", but we all know that the only way to cut bills, protect our environment and meet our climate commitments is by accelerating our transition to renewable energy so that our constituents are no longer susceptible to the roller coaster of fossil fuel prices and are no longer at the behest of global dictators when it comes to setting the price of their energy bills. Therefore, I ask Members to acknowledge that the initial response to this crisis fell far short of what is required and that greater leadership was required sooner to instil confidence among the public in Stormont and the Executive's ability to deliver, but they should also acknowledge that, in the absence of any action from the UK Government and in very difficult circumstances, parties have stepped up and put in place a vital support scheme for people. That is to be welcomed. I hope that all parties can coalesce around the amendment, which, as I say, recognises the shortcomings but is not shy in recognising where progress has been made.

1,098 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:21 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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