Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paused the plan for the early release of certain prisonersAndy Burnham is facing criticism after Northern Ireland was excluded from all three of the new Prime Minister’s flagship cost-of-living measures. But none of the three measures will apply in Northern Ireland with one blocked by post-Brexit trading arrangements and two by devolution. Sinn Féin’s Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said the new Prime Minister was continuing a pattern set by his predecessors. Rates are fully devolved, meaning the relief will not apply in Northern Ireland unless the Executive chooses to mirror it. Mr Burnham is expected to meet the First Minister and deputy First Minister when he visits Northern Ireland as part of a UK-wide tour in August.