The British government under Labour will act as an “honest broker” in relation to any future Border poll on a united Ireland, prime minister Keir Starmer has said.
Speaking in the Great Hall of Stormont’s Parliament Buildings on Monday on his first visit to Northern Ireland since his party’s landslide victory in the UK general election, Mr Starmer made no firm policy commitments on the North – just 48 hours after his Northern Secretary Hilary Benn rejected calls for a Border poll.
However, Mr Starmer pledged to build “respectful” relationships between the London and Dublin governments following the instability of the “last six to eight years”.
In what was his third day in office, Mr Starmer met Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O’Neill and DUP deputy first minster Emma Little-Pengelly before holding brief discussions with delegations from the North’s five main parties.
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Addressing the media, he described the meetings as “positive and constructive” before reaffirming his commitment to “resetting relationships” with politicians on both sides of the Border.
“I have been very clear that my government has a mandate for change, for stability here in Northern Ireland and a different way of doing politics,” he told reporters.
During a visit to the North last year, Mr Starmer dismissed the possibility of a Border poll in the next decade and said it was “not even on the horizon”.
Pressed on the issue on Monday, he softened his tone a little, saying: “This is provided for by the Good Friday Agreement. The framework is set out and I’m absolutely committed to the Good Friday Agreement.
“Today is a recommitment to that and to the approach and the role of the UK government in that as the honest broker.”
[ Three main issues on the agenda for Keir Starmer in Northern IrelandOpens in new window ]
On Saturday, during his first round of meetings in Belfast as Northern Secretary, Mr Benn said the criteria for a Border poll was “very clear” in the Belfast Agreement and there was “no evidence that condition has been met”.
Mr Starmer was asked about the controversial Troubles Legacy Act, which the Labour Party vowed to “repeal and replace” as part of their election manifesto. The prime minister would not be drawn on whether he would request the Irish Government to drop the interstate case it lodged in the European Court of Human Rights against the previous UK administration.
The most contentious part of the legislation, an amnesty for perpetrators of Trouble-related killings and crimes, was deemed unlawful by the Belfast High Court in March – but a truth recovery commission remains in place.
“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,” Mr Starmer said.
Before the press conference, party leaders spoke about their respective morning meetings with Mr Starmer, with each endorsing his appointment.
Ms McDonald described him as a “sensible person” and said the difference in dealing with the new Labour government compared to the previous Conservative government, was like the difference between “daylight and dark”.
Among the issues discussed was funding for the Casement Park redevelopment in west Belfast in advance of the 2028 Euro games and public funding for the North’s frontline services.
“We expect to see progress on that matter (Casement) in the near future,” Ms McDonald said.
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long also said they had positive discussions and again contrasted relations with the previous government, which she said had left a “very toxic legacy”.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said Mr Starmer – who had spent five years working in Northern Ireland as a human rights adviser to the NI Policing Board – knows “what makes this place tick”.
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