DUP ‘plain stupid’ in economic policy, says retired senior civil servant

But AI company sees NI as place to 'build a unicorn' [Belfast Telegraph]( Tuesday, 12 December 2023 [Weekly Business Digest]( [DUP ‘plain stupid’ in its economic policy, says retired senior civil servant](   [Margaret Canning] Margaret Canning Business Editor The [DUP has been “plain stupid”]( in any economic plan to support Brexit and later boycott devolved government. That's according to retired senior civil servant Colin Lewis, who [writes in today’s Business Telegraph]( that there has been “little logic” in the party's decision to step away from Stormont. But it's not all doom and gloom in Northern Ireland. Thomas McKenna, chief executive of Ocula Technologies, talks to Pavel Barter about [why the AI company picked Belfast]( as a base for boosting business. Meanwhile, the Rural Housing Association will [invest in 300 new homes]( around Northern Ireland, and Paul Gosling looks at how the [economies north and south stack up]( in the united Ireland debate. Elsewhere, the focus of many people is firmly on Christmas. The Boulevard in Banbridge has seen the [opening of two new stores]( in the crucial festive shopping period. But many shoppers will be tightening their belts as the cost of groceries remains high in NI — with a Christmas dinner for four [costing nearly 8% more]( when compared to 2022. And finally, a Ballymena mum who was about to give up on her struggling small business has [seen sales surge in recent weeks]( after her product for kids was featured by Patrick Kielty on the Late Late Toy Show. Thanks and see you next week. Top Stories [premium] [Why the finger of blame for economic vandalism should point to the DUP](   [Banbridge outlet welcomes two new stores in time for Christmas](   [Cost of Christmas dinner for four rises almost 8% in the space of just a year](   [premium] [NI mum sees sales surge after spot on Late Late Toy Show](   [Rural Housing Association to invest in 300 new NI homes after securing £25m funding](   --------------------------------------------------------------- YOU MIGHT LIKE --------------------------------------------------------------- Interview [Premium] [‘You can build a unicorn here’: Why this AI company picked NI to boost business]( Opinion [premium] [How economies of north and south stack up in united Ireland debate](   What do you think of this email? [Positive]( [Positive]( [Negative]( [Negative]( [belfasttelegraph]( [Follow us on Twitter]( [Follow us on Facebook]( ABOUT THIS EMAIL This email is from Belfast Telegraph part of Mediahuis UK Ltd. You received this email because you have signed up for the Belfast Telegraph Business Newsletter. [Contact Us]( | [Privacy Statement]( | [Cookie Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( Copyright - 2023 All Rights Reserved