The SDLP has hit back at Sinn Féin criticism of its manifesto costings by labelling its rival's policy pledges a DUP "carbon copy".
Still reeling from a BBC radio interview this week where SDLP Foyle candidate Gerard Diver was left exposed over how the party would fund its plans, finance spokeswoman Claire Hanna said Sinn Féin needed to spell out how its own spending proposals would be funded.
The SDLP had previously insisted its manifesto pledges could be covered by £220m of 'Barnett consequential money' from the Treasury.
However, Mr Diver wrongly presumed the sum was an annual total when in reality it covers four years.
The party said he clarified during the interview that the money was for four years rather then one.
Sinn Féin education minister John O'Dowd later called on SDLP leader Colum Eastwood to say whether he was standing over the previous claims about the manifesto costings.
"Their manifesto is either an attempt to con the electorate or to make demands that cannot be met as an excuse to walk away from their responsibilities and to walk away from the executive," the Upper Bann candidate claimed.
But Ms Hanna yesterday demanded that Sinn Féin provide costings for its manifesto, which includes a pledge that echoes the DUP's promise to spend an additional £1 billion on health.
The South Belfast candidate described Sinn Féin's manifesto as "one of the shortest ever produced".
She insisted the SDLP’s manifesto pledges were costed and funded from extra money from the Chancellor’s last budget.
"Instead of attacking the SDLP's proposals, John O’Dowd should spell out exactly where the £6bn they've planned for infrastructure or the £1bn for health is coming from and what cuts they're planning to make to fund these commitments," she said.
A Sinn Féin spokesman said an additional £148m had already been allocated to the health budget and that incremental increases up to 2021 would total £1bn which come in total to a billion pounds.
"This requires some marginal re-prioritisation of budgets but will reduce waiting lists and pressures on other public services," the spokesman said.
