Autumn Budget doesn’t go far enough to invest in public services and boost growth – O’Dowd

Date published: 26 November 2025

Commenting Minister O’Dowd said: “Ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget I have consistently called on Westminster to support families, workers and small businesses.

“I welcome the removal of the two-child limit, which will help lift thousands of children out of poverty here – something I have been calling for.

“I also welcome the Chancellor’s decision to increase both the Minimum Wage and the Living Wage, important steps that will support our lowest-paid workers.

“However, freezing income tax thresholds will hit working families who will have less disposable income to spend in our local businesses. The Chancellor had an opportunity to ensure those with the broadest shoulders carried more of the burden – but she didn’t go far enough.

“There was little in today’s budget to support economic growth and for small to medium businesses. Despite calls to support our hospitality industry by reducing the VAT rate – these calls went unanswered.

“The budget further strengthens the need for fiscal devolution. My Department will now intensify work to progress this."

Following the Autumn Budget the Executive will receive £370 million of additional funding over the Spending Review Period with £240 million of this for day-to-day spending and £130 million for capital.

Minister O’Dowd added: “While additional funding for public services is welcome, the reality is stark: following today’s announcements we will only receive £18.8 million in additional funding this financial year. This falls far short of what is needed to support the delivery of front line public services.

“I am committed to working in partnership with my Executive colleagues to prioritise and agree allocations in the December Monitoring Round.

“I will move quickly to bring forward a multi-year budget for Executive agreement – one that will shape our public services for the years ahead. This will give departments the certainty they need to plan on a longer-term and more strategic basis, creating the conditions to drive much needed transformational change in the delivery of our public services.

“While financial challenges undoubtedly remain, I stand ready to play my part in supporting workers, families and businesses with a multi-year budget that is focused on Doing What Matters Most.”