MLA Barry McElduff described it as "grotesque".
Mr McElduff said: "George Osborne has repeatedly claimed there is no more money to pay for protections for the most vulnerable people in our society and public services.
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"His claim has also been repeated ad nauseam by other cheerleaders for British government austerity locally. But now George Osborne has made a nonsense of his own claims by pledging £500 million for the upgrade of a nuclear submarine base at Faslane.
"Not only is this pre-empting a decision on the controversial replacement of Trident, it is grotesque that the Tory cabinet of millionaires thinks this is an acceptable use of public money while tens of thousands are being driven deeper into poverty."
(CD/JP)
