THE decision of the Tory Government to hand the DUP in Northern Ireland an additional £1 billion in funding is an insult to hard-working taxpayers in Bury and beyond.

While local council services in Bury are slashed due to the Tory Government’s failed austerity agenda, Northern Ireland will receive a staggering cash boost of £500 million each year over the next two years.

This is equivalent to a cash bonus of £354 per head of population for Northern Ireland residents.

At the same time, Bury Council has lost almost £100 million worth of funding which has led to closure of vital public services such as libraries. And let’s not the forget the pressure that our local NHS is under and the potential closure of the Walk-In Centres in Bury and Prestwich.

Northern Ireland has a population of 1.8 million, almost 1 million less than the population of Greater Manchester, where local councils have seen their funding cut relentlessly over the past seven years.

Whilst we don’t begrudge Northern Ireland receiving money to fund public services and the building of new infrastructure to boost its economy, it demonstrates a total hypocrisy on behalf of this Tory Government.

During the General Election campaign, they said that there was not a “magic money tree” to provide appropriate funding for public services. Actually, it would be appear that there is, but it only delivers for some and not others.

In the past, the Tories have favoured southern councils (remember the Surrey sweetheart deal from February), but now it seems that they will shower affection and resources on anyone from whom they can gain an advantage.

Bury residents deserve better, but they will not get it under a Tory Government.

For taxpayers, this appears to be the most expensive General Election in history.

It cost £150 million to arrange and now a further £1 billion to keep a weak and wobbly Tory Prime Minister in Downing Street.

Councillor Rishi Shori

Labour Leader of Bury Council