Rates rise 'betrayal of those living in a cost of living crisis' - Cllr Emmet Doyle

Derry City and Strabane Disrtict councillor, Emmet Doyle (Aontú) has described the move by SDLP, SF, DUP, UUP and Alliance to endorse a rates rise double that of last year as a "betrayal of those living in a cost of living crisis".

Cllr Doyle was speaking following today's (Monday's) special Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Striking the Rate meeting.

He said Aontú stood by people today and voted against a rates rise that will push people and businesses further into crisis.

Cllr Doyle added: "A 7.97% rise in the middle of a cost of living crisis is unthinkable and despite all parties on Council supporting motions from Aontú in the last year to declare a cost of living emergency and even to establish warm banks, they have today turned their backs on that and added a further burden to ratepayers. It is a betrayal.

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"Businesses with rent of £20k will see a rise of over £500 despite the obvious pressure many are under. I have visited homes over just the last few months where two adults have been working, some of them in our public sector and they are just surviving financially. We had a choice today in Council - take on the duplication of services and the neglect of Derry by Stormont or roll over and push the responsibility onto our own people - I am not prepared to do that.

"The parties that voted in favour of this today will be running spin for the next few weeks around how they ‘took responsibility’ and were acting in the interest of the district but the reality is they have added an extra worry onto ratepayers and they didn’t have to.

If as expected the Regional Rate is set well above 0% then ratepayers will be hit with another increase. People can now see who puts their money where their mouths are and who turns their backs when push comes to shove.”