Keir Starmer aims to end UK-Ireland instability, get a better Brexit deal and ‘reaffirm’ Good Friday Agreement
Sir Keir Starmer has said he aims to bring about an end to instability in relations between the UK and Ireland and claimed he can get a better deal with the EU than the “botched” deal agreed by Boris Johnson.
Following the Prime Minister’s meeting with Stormont First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle on his first visit to Northern Ireland as Prime Minister, Sir Keir refused to be drawn into a discussion about Irish unity, emphasising he wanted to “reaffirm the importance of the principles of the Good Friday Agreement”.
Four pro-Palestine protesters shouted and waved Palestine flags as Mr Starmer, who was accompanied by Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, arrived.
After his meeting with Stormont's leaders, the new Prime Minister moved on to Parliament Buildings, where he was greeted at the foot of the landmark steps by Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots.
After his meeting, Mr Starmer said he was seeking an "immediate reset" of the relationship between the Westminster Government and devolved nations.
He also said his government would bring about an end to instability in relations between the UK and Ireland.
He added: “I have already had discussions with the Taoiseach (Simon Harris) and others, again to make it clear the approach I will take to reset and make sure those relationships are collaborative, that they are respectful.
“Of course there are issues, including in relation to (legacy) litigation. But the most important thing is the way in which we will approach this.
“I treat the mandate that I was given in the General Election as a mandate for doing politics differently, a mandate for stability, much needed stability.
“I think one of the big problems of the last 14 years, but particularly the last six to eight years has been instability, a lot of chopping and changing.
“That all ends today. I have had very constructive discussions not only here in Northern Ireland but with the Taosieach earlier on.”
Mentioning Brexit, Mr Starmer said he thinks that he can get a better deal with the EU than the “botched” deal agreed by Boris Johnson.
Asked if he wanted to see the whole of the UK interacting with the EU on the same basis, he said: “You are right to say we want to improve relations with the EU.
“We think we can get a better deal than the botched deal that Boris Johnston brought home and we will work on that, understanding the work that needs to be done and the nature of the challenge.
He said his landslide victory in the election has given Labour "a clear mandate to govern for all four corners of the United Kingdom".
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Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said her party had a “very constructive, very friendly” meeting with the Prime Minister at Stormont.
Accompanied by the First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Ms McDonald said: “We have discussed with him all of the issues of concern and also the opportunities that now present themselves.
“Clearly the issues around the financial sustainability of the north, the financing of public services is a matter of concern for all of us.
“Issues around the legacy legislation. We very much welcome the commitment to repeal that.
“We also welcome the very firm assurances in respect of Casement Park and we expect to see progress on that matter in the near future.”
Speaking after his meeting with Sir Keir, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said he talked about the ongoing financial challenges facing people in Northern Ireland.
“We had the opportunity not only to talk to him about the importance of devolution in Northern Ireland but the political process itself and the need for a proactive British Government to carefully nurture relationships within Northern Ireland,” he said.
“We talked to him about the ongoing challenges to deliver for people of Northern Ireland.”
Mr Robinson said it had been a “productive discussion”.
He added: “He has the opportunity to make significant changes and advance things positively.”
Meanwhile, Alliance party leader Naomi Long said she hoped the Labour Government would mark a “new start” in terms of relations with Northern Ireland.
Speaking following the meeting with Sir Keir Starmer, she said: “We had the opportunity to raise with him the importance of the impartiality of government in terms of its engagement with local parties and with the Assembly.
“I think he understands how important that is given his history in working in Northern Ireland.
“It also gave us an opportunity to talk to him further about some pressing issues, in particular I raised the issue of legacy.”
She added: “Quite a lot to get through at the meeting but all very positively received and hopefully this will mark a new start in terms of relationships between Belfast and London but also between London and Dublin.
“Certainly the last government left us with a very toxic legacy and I think that will be reversed with the current Prime Minister.”
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Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie said he had raised issues about the funding of public services in Northern Ireland with the new Prime Minister.
Speaking following his Stormont meeting, Mr Beattie said: “It was a short 10 minutes with the Prime Minister.
“We see it as the opportunity to build relationships, we already have good relationships with the Prime Minister’s team.
“We have already reached out to Labour representatives with regards to how do we improve the outcomes in health.”
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said that the Prime Minister understands Northern Ireland.
Speaking at Stormont, Mr Eastwood said: “I think lots of people have given a bit of a collective sigh of relief that we’ve seen the back of the Tory party from government here, 14 years of destroying our public services, 14 years of destroying the economy and family finances.
“This seems like a new dawn and we are very happy that the Labour Party have now taken over control of the British Government.
“Keir Starmer is somebody who gets it, he understands this place, he has been here many times, he worked here and he knew the issues before we even raised them."
by Dodecaheadwrong
6 comments
Sure Jim Allister will be along shortly to ruin this spirit of general positivity (and remind us all that the world is only 6000 years old etc.)…
Must have been a good meeting if every party here come out of it with a positive view.
Eastwood rimming Starmer is hopefully the last nail in his coffin. Already it amplifies the hypocrisy surrounding his noise about the Whitehouse visit and his attempted puritanical approach to Palestine. You’d have thought the votáil Joe Biden t-shirt would have been a lesson, but here he is cosying up to a man who said Israel has the right to withhold water and power from Gaza.
Apart from that it has further great potential to backfire. When the Labour Party of the late 1990s were conducive to progress here, the IRA was bombing London and Tony needed troops for the middle East. Now we want a functioning health service, a complete reversal of austerity and prosecutions for the British soldiers who murdered innocent people on our streets. Somehow I don’t think Keir is our guy.
It would be a good opportunity – not that I expect Starmer to grasp that particular nettle – to update the GFA to a more democratic footing, and allow the likes of Alliance to form a government. The community safeguards were there to forcibly include the nationalist vote, but they don’t need those safeguards anymore. The PUL would be outraged, of course, but it’s nothing a poll wouldn’t solve.
While the EU is receptive to reworking the existing deal I doubt its going to change that much.
The reason the Tories never got anywhere is because there was nowhere to go on a new deal (plus they were insufferable).
There are only 3 viable positions for NI in the UK currently.
Current deal – slightly altered in some way if at all
Whole UK joins the EEA – means the UK would need to enable freedom of movement and become a rule taker
Kill the deal – definitely won’t happen
The only thing I think will work is implementing something to make the admin of GB – NI trade easier. Fundamentally though this means acknowledging there is an Irish sea border and putting systems in place around it.
keir was on the lee clegg trial, was also a human rights adviser for the northern ireland policing board and the ACPO. In 2005, Starmer stated “I got made a Queen’s Counsel, which is odd since I often used to propose the abolition of the monarchy”
its also speculated he had violin lessons with fat bot slim.