https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjr4pvq18ggo
MPs have clashed at Westminster over plans to redevelop Casement Park in time for the Euro 2028 football championships.
Secretary of State Hilary Benn said the government was working "as quickly as possible" to assess the options for Casement.
He also stressed "one way or another the project will be completed".
But unionist MPs challenged the Secretary of State over proposed government funding for the stadium.
TUV MP Jim Allister warned against "pouring millions of pounds" into the project at a time when the health service "needs fixed".
The DUP's Sammy Wilson said it would be "indefensible" if the government committed "£320m" to the stadium for just "five matches" at a time when there are "huge health waiting lists".
Mr Wilson also raised the reported role of Labour's chief of staff Sue Gray in the negotiations around the project.
He asked for an assurance that the government had "not been influenced by personal interventions by the Chief of Staff of the Labour party".
Ms Gray has previously worked as a civil servant in Northern Ireland. She held the post of Permanent Secretary at the Department of Finance.
In response to Mr Wilson, in what was his first Commons appearance at Northern Ireland questions as Secretary of State, Mr Benn said the government had "inherited a commitment to hosting the Euros as Casement Park".
But he added "nothing has happened" in the almost two years since UEFA awarded the right to host games.
"We have been left in a situation were the cost has gone through the roof and we don't know if we had the money if you could build it in time," he said.
In response to Mr Wilson, in what was his first Commons appearance at Northern Ireland questions as Secretary of State, Mr Benn said the government had "inherited a commitment to hosting the Euros as Casement Park".
But he added "nothing has happened" in the almost two years since UEFA awarded the right to host games.
"We have been left in a situation were the cost has gone through the roof and we don't know if we had the money if you could build it in time," he said.
It was all change and no change for Hilary Benn’s debut at the dispatch box.
Unusually, the green benches were almost full as he faced his first Northern Ireland questions.
There were four new faces on the Northern Ireland benches – three of whom posed a question – the SDLP's two MPs crossed the floor and joined Labour on the government benches.
Though the party insists it will act independently and will, when needed, “hold Labours feet to the fire”.
But there was nothing new about the topics raised with legacy legislation and Casement Park topping the bill.
Only now, Hilary Benn has to find the answers to the very same questions he once posed from the opposition benches.
by SouffleDeLogue
21 comments
I wonder who the “Stormont Source” was for last weeks attack piece on Sue Gray in The Times? Hmm…
>TUV MP Jim Allister warned against “pouring millions of pounds” into the project at a time when the health service “needs fixed”.
>The DUP’s Sammy Wilson said it would be “indefensible” if the government committed “£320m” to the stadium for just “five matches” at a time when there are “huge health waiting lists”.
Is it not an investment tho? , ppl who would never thought to visit this shit hole might for the football and then there’s the other few million watching it on the TV,if we put on a good show this could do more for tourism and our long term economy in 5 matches than the tourist board could do in 3000yrs making the same giants causeway advert.
All the money saved from being sent to Brussels should be enough to cover the health bills, I’m sure DUP and TUV have looked into this. Aren’t the DUP the party of keeping chickens warm by burning money
The UK is the 5th or 6th largest and wealthiest economy in the world. Hear me out, but shouldn’t we be able to do both fix the NHS and fund Casement.
Also Jimbo complained about no funding for Ravenhill or Windsor. They had their funding, they’ve been redeveloped.
If unionism hadn’t been as short sighted and redeveloped the Maze or funded Casement years ago it wouldn’t even be up for discussion.
I don’t think building casement is going to impact the NHS. Fuck off Sammy. Take the blinkers off.
Sammy and Jimmy dont seem to understand you can fund both. I swear they bought into the house model of a country’s economy that was peddled out by every armchair economist after the 2008 crash. Unionists should be careful of this idea that we can’t do this without doing that first mindset as that worked well for the Tories where pennies were begrudgingly given but a labour government will just see it as distraction.
More exposure to the petty liars that are Unionist politicians
Bring it to the Lords and we’ll sort it out.
£320m isn’t a big number when you can print your own currency. £700m to send 4 people to Rwanda was fine. If you get drawn into believing this is about cost then you’re getting absolutely sidelined.
Sammy and Jim need to realise that Westminster already pours more money for the NI NHS than other regions. It’s an embarrassment that they are arguing for more when they are clearly incompetent with the surplus the Assembly already receives. Wise up!
All I can think of when I hear Casement Park is the torture, mutilation, and murder of those 2 poor corporals.
Surely one week’s Brexit benefit can be diverted from the NHS for the stadium Sammy…
Unbelievable, NI politicians arguing against investment in NI against English politicians.
We need another Bernadette Devlin character back in Westminster. Every time Allister or Wilson open their mouths in the chamber, up and straight across the floor and slap them straight in the mouth.
This place is getting a new and shiny Casement Park. Deal with it.
They didn’t care about the health service when they sat on their holes and didn’t go to work for the guts of 2 years but once the pesky Fenian areas are getting investment they’re up in arms?
Fuck right off
>The DUP’s Sammy Wilson said it would be “indefensible” if the government committed “£320m” to the stadium for just “five matches” at a time when there are “huge health waiting lists”.
Here’s a reminder of what Sammy Wilson thinks an “amazing feat of engineering” is:
https://preview.redd.it/2em8t9b0phed1.png?width=1300&format=png&auto=webp&s=b3d3217670c7809bdd6a4c942c4ebcd0f140c3bd
So… you’d think he’d be much more impressed by an *actual* feat of engineering… like a stadium, for instance. (And say nothing about the collapsing stands at Windsor.)
Maybe Sammy’s still sore because he couldn’t get the Commons to officially congratulate the builders of this entirely illegal pyre last year. Or maybe it’s the UDA money behind Craigyhill bonfire that he really likes…. an ‘indefensible’ – nay, criminal – waste, though some might call it.
hospitals is better to be spent on
No need for yet another stadium. Ravenhill and Windsor sit empty most of the week. All stadiums in NI should be forced to be shared between sports. It’s ridiculous to have two of everything just because white Protestants and white Catholics refuse to work together. Let’s share our existing stadiums between sports and invest money in healthcare and our crumbling schools. It’s a joke that there are football stadiums, leisure centres and bus stops right next to each other because Billy and Seamus refuse to get along with each other.
It’s a joke that there are football stadiums, leisure centres and bus stops right next to each other just because Billy and Seamus refuse to get along with each other. People need to put their big kids pants on and grow up a bit. Share the existing stadiums and invest money in hospitals and crumbling schools.
What did West Belfast’s MP say about this? Oh wait, they weren’t there to speak up for their people. A pity but I suppose that’s what they voted for.
A more interesting question, what would’ve happened with the Euros bid if casement had already undergone redevelopment years ago in alignment with the other recipients of the initial funding ( Ni football, Windsor. Ni Rugby Ravenhill).?
The original developers charged with overseeing and realizing the casement project got a bit greedy and big for their boots (by some accounts). Failed to reach a mutually agreeable compromise with surrounding residents which left things in limbo for years as costs spiraled.
Casement should’ve been built years ago to the original agreed size and scale for its intended primary use, The hubris and inability to reach a compromise with residents in a timely manner prevented that from happening unfortunately.
What would they have done to accommodate Euros games had casement been built on the original schedule years ago though? (As a hypothetical).
Close daisy hill hospital and reallocate the funds to build casement?