British Chancellor Gordon Brown came under fresh pressure today to reduce the corporation tax rate in Northern Ireland to help boost the region's economy.
The call for tax harmonisation with the Republic where the economy has been booming was made at a business breakfast in Belfast hosted by the SDLP for more than 100 representatives of the business community, trade unions and community and voluntary sector.
The call for a tax harmonisation was backed by businessman Denis O'Brien who said: "It is not sustainable on a small island to have one part moving on driven by the private sector and low taxes while the other is held back because of the interests of London and the south east."
SDLP leader Mark Durkan presented a paper Shaping An All-Island Economy, which said the creation of such an economy could only be achieved with a greater degree of tax harmonisation -especially as regards the business sector.
Mr Durkan admitted there had been "no encouraging signs from Gordon Brown or anyone else" over the call for corporation tax to be cut in Northern Ireland from 30 per cent to the 12.5 per cent enjoyed by competitors across the Border.
PA