East Derry MLA Claire Sugden has told the NI Assembly that her constituents are coming to her in tears on a weekly basis due to the current cost of living.
Ms Sugden made the claim in an impassioned speech as the Assembly was recalled for a failed attempt to elect a Speaker and resume government.
The nomination of the SDLP’s Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone and the UUP’s Mike Nesbitt for the role failed to reach the required amount of cross-community support.
The failure resulted in the suspension of the plenary session, but before the vote, MLAs lined up to make their speeches to fellow members.
Claire Sugden dismissed the idea that the Assembly was ‘not capable’ of doing anything to help people struggling.
“To those who say that this Assembly and this Executive is not capable of anything; yes we are,” she said.
“I can wholeheartedly say to you …