‎Expert advises Stormont to hold back on welfare reform #BBCNolan

Stormont should hold back on welfare reforms. That's the message from the head of an influential London think tank. Jonathan Portes is director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research and a former Government economist. He's scathing about Universal Credit, the main plank of the Westminster welfare reforms. It's designed to bring six existing benefits together. As you know, our Assembly can't agree on whether welfare reforms, including Universal Credit, should apply here. Stormont is being hit by financial penalties for not introducing them. The DUP thinks the reforms should be extended, but Sinn Fein is blocking that. Jonathan Portes presented a BBC Radio Four programme last night on welfare reform in Britain. He's also been speaking to Nolan Show editor David Gordon, who asked him what his advice would be to Stormont politicians