Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has described the Budget as a “missed opportunity to tackle the soaring cost of living”.

She said instead of “real action” to bring down bills, many will now face higher tax bills in the year ahead.

Ms O’Neill hailed the removal of the two-child cap in terms of benefits as “welcome progress” but said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves “failed to deliver a budget that truly supports families and workers through the cost of living crisis”.

Stormont Finance Minister John O’Dowd said the Budget “doesn’t go far enough” locally in investing in public services and boosting growth.

He added that it “strengthened the need” for fiscal devolution in Northern Ireland.

The UK Government confirmed that Stormont wou

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