Derry and Strabane Council motion addressing 'crippling poverty' in district to be discussed

Councillor Shaun Harkin has announced his intention to submit a motion to the November full Council meeting to the address what he calls the 'crippling poverty' faced by people in this Council district.

People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said many people in Derry and Strabane find themselves fighting for basic necessities.

"Thousands of people are struggling to feed themselves and their families, relying on food banks and charity to survive," the People Before Profit councillor said.

"The winter weather will make life even harder for those who cannot afford to heat their homes or buy warm clothes.

"The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, has warned that the British government is in violation of international law for its policies that have inflicted misery and hardship on millions of people.

"The Tories are to blame for this situation, as they have imposed cruel austerity measures, cut public services, and slashed welfare benefits.

"Stormont, when it was actually functioning, compounded poverty here by greenlighting Tory policies instead of being a bulwark against them.

"The Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, has shown complete disregard and contempt for people here.

"Instead of using direct pressure on the DUP, he has used poverty as a weapon of collective punishment to try and force a return of the Stormont Executive.

"His strategy has been a disaster for people in all our communities, for workers in need of a pay rise and for public services in desperate need of funding.

"My motion will demand that Derry and Strabane Council hold Heaton Harris to account.

"We call on Council to work with all relevant bodies to alleviate the suffering caused by these Tory policies."