New Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has said his priority is to establish a new relationship between the UK government and Stormont’s powersharing Executive.
Mr Benn was speaking after hosting a meeting with Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Hillsborough Castle in Co Down on Saturday evening.
Mr Benn also met representatives of the Stormont parties during his first visit to the region since taking up the role.
“I wanted to get to work as quickly as possible and was therefore pleased to be able to hold these initial discussions with the First and Deputy First Ministers and representatives from the other parties,” Mr Benn said.
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“My immediate priorities are to establish a new relationship between the UK government and the Northern Ireland Executive as we work together to foster economic growth and prosperity, and to improve public services.
“I want to ensure that we have a system in place for addressing the legacy of the past in a way that wins support from victims’ families and that all communities can have confidence in, and which is compliant with human rights.”
Mr Benn had been serving as the Labour’s shadow Northern Ireland secretary since 2023 and was chairman of the House of Commons’ Brexit select committee for years.
The Leeds MP was among new British prime minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet appointees.
Mr Starmer and Mr Benn have previously said a Labour government would repeal the controversial Legacy Act, introduced by the Tories to address Troubles legacy issues and widely opposed by all the main political parties in Northern Ireland.
Mr Benn was also vocal in urging the powersharing institutions to be revived during the three-year hiatus.
He takes over from the Conservatives’ Chris Heaton-Harris, who has been in the role for almost two years and did not contest the recent UK general election.
Mr Benn said that the new UK government was firmly committed to the 1998 Belfast Agreement.
“We will work hard to deliver its vision for reconciliation, equality, respect for rights and parity of esteem,” Mr Benn said.
The Northern Ireland Secretary said his meeting with Ms O’Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly was “very constructive”.
“I look forward to building on our relationship in the months ahead,” he said.
Mr Starmer has already said he will visit Northern Ireland during his first days in office.
Mr Benn said he also had a phone call with Tánaiste Micheál Martin on Friday.
“As our nearest neighbour and co-guarantor of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, our relationship with Ireland is of great importance,” Mr Benn said.
“The new UK government will work closely with the Irish Government to reset and strengthen the relationship between our two countries.” – PA
