Cameron arrives in North for talks

David Cameron flew into Belfast today for talks with the North’s political leaders.

The new British Prime Minister was greeted by Democratic Unionist First Minister Peter Robinson and Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness as he arrived at Stormont Castle.

On his first engtagement in the North since taking office, Mr Cameron will also meet the leaders of the other minor parties in the devolved powersharing executive – the Ulster Unionists (UUP), the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and the Alliance Party.

The continuing threat posed by dissident republicans will be on the agenda but the economy is set to dominate discussions, in particular the Tory pledge to consider making the North a special enterprise zone, a move that could see a dramatic cut in local business tax rates.

Local politicians have been lobbying for the power to reduce corporation tax from the UK-wide rate of 28% to enable the region to compete on a more level playing field with the Republic of Ireland, where the levy is 12.5%.

Such a measure could see the North’s share of the Treasury’s block grant cut accordingly, so Assembly members have been debating whether it is a risk worth taking.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Reg Empey, who is to stand down later in the year after his party’s ill-fated electoral link-up with Mr Cameron’s Conservatives failed to win one seat, said decisive action was needed to help the region emerge from the recession.

“I hope our discussions will focus on the economy and what the Government can bring forward to help Northern Ireland,” he said.