Never dull with Sammy

Published Thursday, 06 August 2009
Comments
Toggle font size
Print

 Sammy Wilson has been Finance Minister for just over a month.

In his previous job in Environment he managed to upset the green lobby amongst other with his controversial views on climate change.

The Assembly's environment committee passed a vote of no-confidence in him, while he sometimes went on a solo run which annoyed some of his executive colleagues.

But he was never afraid to state his case and the political hacks at Stormont were very grateful.

Maybe, we thought, the more sober brief of finance would quieten Sammy down.

Not a bit of it.

On Thursday, after an attack from the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities, he said there was now an anti-racism industry.

Alliance MLA Anna Lo said she was disgusted.

But the Minister had more to say.

''There's a human rights industry, there's an equality industry, there's a victims industry and there is a race industry,'' he said

''I have to ask: are the resources which go to these particular areas resources which are well spent?"

He has also targeted civil service and assembly costs while quangos are also in his sights.

Hold onto your hats this could be lively.

© UTV News
Views: 2,434
Comments Comments
6 Comments
Moses in Newtonperry wrote (947 days ago):
Wilson is a hardened seasoned politician and has a passionate record he's resiliant!
William Blacker in Belfast wrote (1,009 days ago):
Sammy is right! There are too many organisations looking for free taxpayers handouts yet they in turn produce absolutely no physical benefit to the economy when at a time of economic crisis every penny must count! I want my taxes going to health, education and those business who in turn generate jobs and prosperity for this country - NOT - pseudo self promoting, self profiteering and unaccountable organisations! To these people I say "GET A REAL JOB!"
Jim in Staten Island wrote (1,010 days ago):
Hi Sammy, why not complain about the money spend on cleaning up bone-fires and of course the millions spend on policing Orange Order parades. here's an idea, ban all parades and save millions.
Darrell Monteith in Omagh wrote (1,010 days ago):
Never were truer words spoken, this country is plagued with inspectors, regulators, monitors et. al most of whom absolute incompetents and simply freeloading on the backs of the productive parts of society. If these people all feel so strongly about what they are involved in, let them do it voluntarily.
sue in portoadown wrote (1,013 days ago):
well spoken Sammy both on the green issues and on this issue. Too many people are making a good living out of the industries, it is the same in the community funding sector, there never seems to be any improvment in these communities no matter how much money they get. So well said Sammy and keep telling it as is is - clear speaking is very refreshing when we hear all the double speak from the rest.
POST A COMMENT:
Name:  
Email address*:    
Location:  
Validation:
House Rules:  
Your Comment:  
[All comments are moderated and will not appear immediately. Your name, location and comment will be displayed on this page if your post passes moderation.]
Ken Reid
Ken Reid

Ken Reid is Political Editor at UTV. His career as a journalist began at The News Letter in 1977, where he remained for seven years. This was followed by stints as the sports editor, and later editor, of the Sunday News, and reporting for the Cork Examiner.

Ken joined UTV in 1994. He says one of his most memorable moments was breaking the Ian Paisley retirement story in 2008.

He's a big fan of rugby (Ballymena to be precise), cricket and football (Everton FC) and loves music, especially blues.

His favourite motto is Everton FC's: "Nil satis nisi optimum"... Only the best is good enough.

SEARCH BLOGS
By Date:
<May 2012
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
30123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031123
45678910
By Blogger:
By Theme: