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The UUP's 'Plan B' for the economy amounts to begging Westminster for more money (News, September 15).
Sandra Overend, the MLA who introduced the strategy, is right about one thing, though: it is certainly a simple plan. It might be more accurate to say, 'simplistic'.
Essentially, the party has two ideas. Firstly, it argues that, if a cut in corporation tax is not possible, the Executive should pursue ... a cut in corporation tax (albeit at the lower rate).
This is not a genuine alternative at all. NI Conservatives certainly agree that devolving powers to cut corporation tax is crucial. However, the UUP has not devised a 'Plan B' in this regard, but has simply tweaked 'Plan A'.
The party's second suggestion is to lobby the Treasury for more money to spend on capital projects. To present our politicians' age-old ploy of shifting responsibility to Westminster as something new is laughable.
It is deeply disappointing that the UUP has shown so little grasp of the other tools which can benefit our economy.
It could talk about using the enterprise zone powers which the Executive already has. It could urge action on business rates. It could highlight possible incentives for exporters. Instead, we've got old ideas presented as new.
The UUP is not articulating a coherent centre-right economic vision. It is the NI Conservatives who are listening and responding to the needs of business.
BILL McKENDRY
NI Conservatives
