The Prime Minister has reconfirmed his commitment to making a "significant" contribution towards the building of Casement Park ahead of the Euros in 2028. Rishi Sunak was speaking in Belfast during a visit to Northern Ireland as part of a whistle-stop tour of the UK to launch his election campaign.
Speaking after a report by Grant Thornton estimated that holding five games of the Euros in 2028 at Casement Park would bring in £106m for the local economy, the Prime Minister confirmed that Northern Ireland would have a "wonderful legacy" following the tournament.
"We said that we would make a significant contribution to Casement Park. The conversations are ongoing with the Department but what I will also say is that there is going to be a wonderful legacy of the Euros here in Northern Ireland."
Adding to that, Secretary of State, Chris Heaton Harris said that when he said the money would be found to build Casement, the costs have since risen.
"When I said we would find the money for Casement Park, the costs were £166m. Those costs have risen and we are going to make a significant contribution to Casement Park and Northern Ireland will see a wonderful legacy of the Euros when they come here."
Elsewhere, addressing the fact that he is here on a campaign stop when in the 2019 General Election, the four Conservative candidates who stood in Northern Ireland won a combined 5433 votes, or 0.7% of the overall vote in NI, the Prime Minister said that he came to Northern Ireland because he "cares deeply" about the region.
"I am here because I care deeply about Northern Ireland, the people of Northern Ireland and our Union. I don't know if this is the fifth or sixth time that I have been here in the time that I have been Prime Minister because I have been determined to make sure that the people of Northern Ireland firstly get the government that they deserve and feel part of the union.
"When I first got this job, Chris [Heaton Harris] and I worked very hard through the Windsor Framework and the recent agreement to make that happen.
"So, I am proud of what we have achieved here in Northern Ireland and I am really optimistic and excited about Northern Ireland's future."
by Derry_Amc
10 comments
Ironically not what the unionists want to hear. It’ll be stalled into being built too late and the funds given back to Westminster even though it seems Westminster actually want it built.
That money will never be offered to NI ever again
Excellent.
Now build the thing.
I asked the local cows, they said they don’t care
He’s the ex-prime minister in waiting, would he fuck up about shit he’ll never do
He’s putting the blame on Labour when they say its not financially viable to build it after they take power in a few months. “Totally not our fault, it’s those Labour bastards!”
He may as well be promising £100 for each of us from him at Christmas.
panem et circenses
holy fucking shit the amount of talking about Casement park is actually melting
Could our politicians discuss anything else?
Meanwhile we have school support staff on minimum wage going out on strike….And this government can somehow find millions for a ridiculous vanity project?
Utter farce.
https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2024/may/northern-ireland-school-support-workers-begin-strikes-over-pay-and-grading
I don’t give a flying fuck about Casement Park or a fucking football tournament. I want my electric bill to not be double what it was a year ago! I want my mortgage to not be 1.5 times what it was last year. I want my food shopping to not be twice what it was last year. I want the NHS fixed and more social housing for people in need. I don’t give a fuck if Casement park never gets built.
Has nobody else remembered to never trust the Tories. Vague statements and promises before inevitable delays are par for the course with these wankers.
How many times did he visit before he got into politics?