Sammy Wilson has accused Downing Street’s chief of staff Sue Gray of “interfering constitutionally” over the heads of Stormont and “promoting the pet projects” of Sinn Féin.
The DUP MP made the remarks about the former Department of Finance permanent secretary’s apparent involvement in securing funding for Casement Park in an interview with GB News
However, in the same interview he conceded that he had no idea if the allegations from anonymous sources published by the Times on Wednesday were true.
The veteran East Antrim representative’s comments have been described as a “rant” and “unserious criticism from an increasingly unserious man”.
Mr Wilson described recently-appointed secretary of state Hilary Benn’s prioritisation of securing funding for Casement Park ahead of Euro 2028 as a “rather strange position” given what the DUP MP termed crises in the health and education sectors.
He said that if reports claiming Ms Gray is involved in efforts to ready the west Belfast stadium for the quadrennial football tournament it would be “the first major political scandal of the new government”.
“That someone who is in a powerful position uses that position to promote the pet project of political pals in Sinn Féin, now that’s a very, very serious thing,” he said.
Mr Wilson claimed the British Treasury had concluded rebuilding Casement Park “is not value for money” and that the project was “not even a priority for the Northern Ireland Assembly”.
“So she’s interfering constitutionally in the priorities of the Northern Ireland Assembly. They have set aside money for the refurbishment of Casement Park, the same as they did for football stadium and for rugby stadium. The GAA now want over £300 million,” he said.
“It is public money, it’s taxpayers’ money and there are far, far higher priorities. And of course, don’t forget, this is to build a stadium to host five football matches; £310 million for five football matches.”
The DUP MP also raised concerns that the cost of the project could increase to £400m, while claiming the matter should be left in the hands of his party colleague and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.
“I think the only thing to gain out of this really is it keeps Sinn Féin sweet, and sometimes that seems to be a default position of the Northern Ireland Office and of government,” he said.
“Because Sinn Féin presents a big threat to them, and therefore they’ve got to keep them happy.”
Sinn Féin West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said hosting Euro 2028 games at Casement Park was an “opportunity of a lifetime”.
“This is our time to shine on the world stage, and to leave a game-changing legacy for local football for years to come, while also providing a major boost to our local economy,” he said.
Belfast SDLP councillor Paul Doherty described Mr Wilson’s remarks as a “rant”.
“It’s unserious criticism from an increasingly unserious man,” he said.
“I welcome that getting Casement Park built is a clear priority for the Labour government - the opportunity for sport in Belfast and beyond is unmissable.”
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hilary Benn said he has no idea where the story about Ms Gray had originated.
