SDLP Communities Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan MLA has publicly questioned whether there is internal dissent within the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the recently agreed anti-poverty strategy.

Mr McCrossan raised the issue with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons in the Assembly on Monday, 19 May. The Executive had agreed the long-awaited strategy at a meeting last week, and it is now set to go out for public consultation.

The West Tyrone MLA stated: "There is growing concern around the confidence of some Executive parties in the Minister's anti-poverty strategy. Last week we heard the First Minister express her view that it could go further, but this did not stop her appearing at a press conference with the deputy First Minister and Communities Minister to trumpet it, 18 years after the need for a strategy was agreed." He continued: "Today in the Assembly it seemed like MLAs from some Executive parties went even further to distance themselves from the strategy. This raises serious questions about the content of the strategy itself and whether it will actually lead to meaningful action to address the poverty that is the scourge of communities across the North."

Mr McCrossan challenged Executive parties to explain their initial approval if concerns exist. "If there are concerns about the content of this strategy then I would challenge Executive parties to answer why it was signed off in the first place. It's not acceptable to rubber stamp something then attempt to pass the buck when the contents become known. This strategy is long-overdue and struggling families are counting on it to make a difference in their lives, if it doesn't deliver then the entire Executive must take responsibility for that."