Starmer meets O’Neill and Little-Pengelly in first trip to the North as prime minister
Jonathan McCambridge, PA
Keir Starmer has met Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly as he continues his tour of the UK.
The new British prime minister is visiting Belfast following his trip to Scotland on Sunday, and will also visit Wales to round off a visit to the three devolved regions.
He arrived at Stormont Castle early on Monday morning as he begins his first full week in office, ahead of travelling to the Nato summit in Washington on Tuesday.
Ms O’Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly greeted Mr Starmer and new Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn at the castle entrance before they held a meeting inside. Ms O’Neill congratulated him on his electoral success and they discussed Westminster and Stormont parliamentary schedules.
After half an hour with Stormont’s leaders, Mr Starmer then moved on to Parliament Buildings, where he was greeted at the foot of the landmark steps by Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots.
He is then holding talks with representatives from the main Stormont parties.
He is likely to face questions about funding for cash-strapped public services in Northern Ireland as well as coming under pressure from Ms O’Neill to commit to funding the redevelopment of Casement Park, which has been earmarked to host Euro 2028 matches.
He is also likely to be asked about delivering on his party’s manifesto pledge to repeal the controversial Legacy Act.
Sinn Féin emerged from last week’s election as the Northern party with the largest representation at Westminster and the party’s president, Mary Lou McDonald, has urged Mr Starmer to “embrace the right of Irish self-determination and constitutional change toward Irish reunification”.
Mr Starmer has already spoken by phone with Ms O’Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly.
He has also had a conversation with Taoiseach Simon Harris, and the two leaders are due to meet later this month.
Mr Starmer said he was seeking an “immediate reset” of the relationship between the Westminster government and devolved nations as he announced his UK tour.
He said his landslide victory in the UK election had given Labour “a clear mandate to govern for all four corners of the United Kingdom”.
His new Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn made his first visit to the North since being appointed at the weekend.
He held talks with Ms O’Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly at Hillsborough Castle on Saturday and said his priority is to establish a new relationship between the UK government and Stormont’s powersharing Executive.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said he would use his meeting with Mr Starmer at Stormont to make the case for “fair and sustainable funding for our essential public services”.
He added: “I welcome the commitment from the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State that the election outcome again reaffirms support for our place within the United Kingdom and that this new government intends to treat all parts and regions of the Kingdom with respect.
“Now is a time for new beginnings.”
Mr Robinson added: “I look forward to hearing from the PM on his plans for the UK’s future relations with the European Union and his plans to ensure barriers within the United Kingdom are removed.”
Mr Starmer is expected to visit Wales later on Monday.
During his trip to Edinburgh on Sunday, Mr Starmer said he discussed a “constructive” working relationship on the economy, energy and future of the Grangemouth refinery.
Speaking after his meeting with Scotland’s first minister John Swinney, Mr Starmer said there were “clearly differences of opinion” on the constitutional issue of Scottish independence.
Mr Starmer said: “The point of this meeting was to reset the relationship in a respectful way, in a constructive way, and to recognise that on the economy, energy and very pressingly on Grangemouth, there is room for us to have a constructive way of delivering for very many people across Scotland.”
He added the pair had a “joint view” of working constructively, adding: “I am absolutely clear that during the campaign I made a commitment that my Labour government would deliver for Scotland.
