Northern Ireland bracing for cuts in health, education and policing

Most senior civil servant expresses ‘profound concern’ in budget reductions to pay back £297m overspend to Tresury

Northern Ireland voters are bracing themselves for swingeing cuts in health, education and policing with “profound concern” being raised by one of the most senior civil servants in the country.

In a highly unusual move, Jayne Brady, the head of Northern Ireland’s civil service, wrote to the Northern Ireland secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, on Wednesday warning of the “damage” that could be caused by the “unprecedented” budget reductions to pay back a £297m overspend to the Treasury.