Sinn Féin Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald has criticised comments made by the Secretary of State Hilary Benn on his unannounced visit to Ulster University in Belfast today.

Speaking on this Minster Archibald said:

“Hilary Benn’s comments demonstrate a blatant disregard for communities here and for our democratically elected political institutions.

“Neither Mr. Benn nor his government have any democratic mandate here.

“Rather than advocating for the people of the north of Ireland, as his title suggests he should, he has become an apologist for a Tory austerity agenda which his own government has now adopted and which has stripped our public services to the bone.

“When Hilary Benn talks about ‘difficult choices’ he really means punitive taxes, additional charges and increased costs for struggling workers and families.

“In contrast, Executive Ministers are engaged every single day making decisions to represent and address the interests and needs of our people. We know the issues because we live here and in our communities.

“Mr Benn’s government have shamefully cut the winter fuel payment for older people. It has introduced plans to increase tax on family farms and is increasing taxes which will damage or destroy small businesses.

“Mr Benn’s Party committed to ‘repealing and replacing’ the Legacy Act but we continue to see the state block and deny families accessing truth and justice.

“In the case of Sean Brown, Mr Benn is prolonging the grief of the Brown family by dragging them back through the courts in an attempt to conceal the criminality of the British state.

“Mr Benn’s actions, and the actions of his government, are yet another compelling argument for constitutional change.”