Michael Fallon defends £1 billion deal amid backlash

Defence secretary Michael Fallon has argued that the £1 billion extra spending for Northern Ireland is a necessary investment for a more disadvantaged part of the UK.

Fallon, following a backlash over the deal in Scotland, Wales and parts of England, has said that the money for hospitals, schools and roads was good news for the UK as a whole. He rejected Labour first minister of Wales Carwyn Jones’s idea that the deal is a ‘bung’ to the Democratic Unionists to prop up the government.

He said: “Let’s be clear – we all have an interest in the future prosperity and security of the province. This is £1 billion that will go to improving some investment, improving the infrastructure of the province, growing the private economy of the province, and ensuring its employment rate – which is behind Wales and Scotland – catches up.

“We all as taxpayers, wherever we are, in England, Wales and Scotland, we all have an interest in Northern Ireland doing better. I saw it described, ridiculously today, as some kind of bung to the DUP. The DUP is not getting this money. The money is going to invest in the people of Northern Ireland.”