1000 days without government: Stormont´s shutdown has cost taxpayers £100m, says economist
(WorldNews Politics)

Stormont has cost taxpayers almost £100m to run in the 1,000 days since devolution has been suspended, a leading economist said last night. Dr Esmond Birnie said that £3m a month was being spent on Assembly members` wages, expenses, and the operational costs of running the building and other staff. MLAs were on full pay until last November when their salaries were reduced by 15%. A further cut has brought them down to £35,888. But pressure will mount on the Government to take further action to save public funds as Northern Ireland approaches 1,000 days without devolution on Sunday. The Assembly collapsed in January 2017 when the late Martin McGuinness resigned as Sinn Fein Deputy First...