Energy cash ‘used as lever to kickstart Assembly’

SENIOR civil servants are “interfering” in Northern Ireland’s politics by withholding energy support payments, a DUP MP has claimed.

Sammy Wilson, pictured, told the Commons that officials were seeking to use the £400 bonus as a “lever to get the Assembly back into operation”.

It is understood he was referring to civil servants at Westminster, rather than Stormont mandarins. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt responded that he was unaware of the claims but would make inquiries.

Mr Wilson claimed “it seems that some senior civil servants are seeking to use non-payment as a lever to get the Assembly back into operation again”.