Harkin: Foyle DUP MLA vote against Holiday Hunger Bill ‘reprehensible’
People Before Profit backed the Holiday Hunger Bill as a step towards tackling child hunger and poverty.
Derry City and Strabane District councillor Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) has branded the Foyle DUP MLA vote against Holiday Hunger Bill ‘reprehensible’.
Cllr Harkin said: “People Before Profit backed the Holiday Hunger Bill as a step towards tackling child hunger and poverty. The DUP shamefully voted against the bill, while the UUP and TUV failed to register a vote for or against.
“The DUP MLA for Foyle needs to explain how they could justify voting down a measure that will give some desperately needed cost-of-living relief to working-class households of all backgrounds?” added Cllr Harkin.
“The number of children in Derry and Strabane Council area who can access free school meals and benefit from the holiday hunger bill is estimated to be 12,500, more than 40% of all children. This is almost double the average for Council areas across the North.
“The fact that we have disproportionate levels of child poverty means the Holiday Hunger Bill can help more children and their families.
The number of children in Derry and Strabane Council area who can access free school meals and benefit from the holiday hunger bill is estimated to be 12,500, more than 40% of all children.
“With Stormont again failing to implement an Anti-Poverty Strategy, blocking the Holiday Hunger Bill is reprehensible. Working-class households watched MLAs gift themselves massive pay hikes as they struggle with stagnant wages and rising bills. The attempt by the DUP to block this bill was another slap in the face for all working-class households.
“Stormont’s policies must be completely overhauled to prioritise the needs of working-class instead of bankers, landlords and corporate profiteers."