Assembly members warned to prepare for redundancies

The British government was attacked tonight after warning Northern Ireland MLAs to begin making any staff redundancy arrangements.

With salaries and office allowances worth up to £80,000 (€120,000) set to stop unless the November 24 devolution deadline is met, officials have told Assembly members they may have to issue notices weeks earlier.

Letters have been sent to all 108 MLAs stressing that the British government cannot offer advice on contractual obligations and entitlements for support workers whose jobs are under threat.

Unionists and nationalists were incensed by the instructions.

Jeffrey Donaldson, whose Democratic Unionist Party says the conditions are not yet right for going back into a coalition at Stormont with republicans, described it as attempted bribery.

The Lagan Valley MLA, who employs two Assembly workers, said: “It’s most unfair that the government should basically issue redundancy notices for our staff.

“If the Secretary of State is to remove Assembly members salaries that’s one thing.

“But denying their staff members salaries and closing down constituency offices is not the way to build a stable political process.

“It’s short-sighted and narrow-minded of government to take it out on the political process by targeting the staff and offices of Assembly members.

“Clearly they are trying to put pressure on the political parties and its part of a continuing campaign to try and bribe the politicians into prematurely re-establishing an Executive in circumstances where we don’t yet have the stable conditions to work roperly.”

MLAs have been told it’s up to them, in consultation with their legal advisers, to determine when to issue notice to any staff they do notintend to retain beyond November 24 in those circumstances.

But Alban Maginness of the nationalist SDLP expressed concern at the implications.

The North Belfast MLA, who also employs two office workers, demanded precise directions from Mr Hain.

“My staff will have to go and get other employment,” he said.

“It’s not sufficient for the Secretary of State to say make your own plans.

“If you have no money how can you make plans?”

The Northern Ireland Office stressed, however, there was nothing in the letter that should come as a surprise.

A spokesman said: “When the government published its work plan (for restoring devolution) at the end of ast month it made clear that it would be writing to MLAs to make them aware of their responsibilities to their employees in the event that devolution was not restored by November 24.

“It is the government’s firm hope that full devolution can and will be restored and that the arrangements detailed in the letter will not need to come into effect.”