Stormont budget talks in 'no-deal territory' as Givan accuses Bryant of 'laissez-faire' approach

Talks between Stormont and the UK Government over financial support to ease the region’s spending pressures are entering “no-deal territory”, Northern Ireland Education Minister Paul Givan has warned.

Speaking to BBC Good Morning Ulster on Friday, the DUP minister criticised Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant over a “laissez-faire attitude” to the negotiations, saying he was using an “almost take it or leave it” approach. Givan said Bryant’s style of negotiation “isn’t going to bode well for trying to get a settled outcome, which is what the people of Northern Ireland need”.

Bryant told Stormont party leaders on Thursday there would be no improvement on the current financial offer — slightly above £1.5 billion over three years — and asked ministers to respond by next Thursday, warning he could set a budget for the region if they fail to agree one. The offer, unchanged since it was made in writing on 10 September, includes £450 million in resource funding for 2026/27, £400 million in each of the next two years, and £50 million a year for public-service transformation which the Executive must match.

Stormont departments have been operating without a budget since the start of the financial year, allowed to spend up to 95% of last year’s funding. Ministers insist they cannot strike a 2026/27 budget without extra Westminster support.

Finance Minister John O’Dowd of Sinn Féin signalled cross-Executive unity, calling the offer “not a fair deal” and saying Northern Ireland deserves equality of treatment with Scotland and Wales: “Taxpayers here, workers, families and business owners, deserve a fair return on their taxes and they’re not getting that.”

Sources

• PA via Leigh Journal: Budget negotiations entering ‘no-deal territory’, Paul Givan warns (25 Sept 2026)