Sinn Féin’s Alex Maskey MLA has today restated Sinn Féin’s determination to protect the most vulnerable in society from Tory welfare cuts.

Alex Maskey MLA said:

“In 2015, Sinn Féin secured the £585m mitigations package to protect the most vulnerable in society from Tory attacks on welfare.

“At that time, the First and deputy First Ministers asked welfare experts Eileen Evason and Kevin Higgins to design this mitigations package and Sinn Féin fully embraced and implemented their proposals.

“As that initial package now needs renewed, Sinn Féin fully supports the current proposals from Eileen Evason and Kevin Higgins to continue protections for the most vulnerable in our society and, specifically, to offset the draconian Tory bedroom tax and benefits cap.

“We have been working with other parties to reach agreement on these essential protections and I am satisfied there is broad political agreement on their extension.”