Keir Starmer meets NI and ROI leaders
Sir Keir Starmer is in Edinburgh to meet political leaders on both sides of the Irish border.
He is the third Prime Minister in 17 years to attend a meeting of the British-Irish Council.
The event was attended by Taoiseach Simon Harris and Deputy Taoiseach Tánaiste. Fine Gael/Fine Gael Coalition Government.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengery were also in attendance, as were the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales.
Controversy over Brexit and Brexit legacy of trouble In the final days of the Conservative government, relations between Britain and Ireland hit their lowest point in decades.
But the return of a Labor government led to the much-vaunted reset.
Just this week, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn Start repealing the Heritage Actwhich the Irish government is challenging in court.
This is the 42nd summit of the BIC, one of the institutions that emerged from the Good Friday Agreement.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden is also expected to attend.
Discussions are expected to focus on achieving a just transition and clean energy.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister was focused on getting vital information to people across the UK and working closely with the devolved authorities, including Stormont.
Analysis: ‘Jealous of parliamentary majorities’
Sir Keir Starmer has met Michael Martin and Simon Harris before.
But the timing of the meeting is interesting, taking place just a week after the Irish general election.
Oh, how envious Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael leaders must be of his current 156-seat parliamentary majority.
They are now separated by two to one and Martin has said a coalition government will be formed after Christmas.
Past meetings of the Anglo-Irish Council have often been overshadowed by the deadlock at Stormont.
Not this time.
First minister and deputy first ministers Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pendgelley have been in office longer than their counterparts in Scotland and Wales, while Sir Keir only came to power in July following unrest in Edinburgh and Cardiff .
Questions about the legacy of the troubles are expected to arise when the leaders hold a joint news conference over lunch, protocol, As well as the big vote in Stormont next week and, of course, trying to form a government in Dublin before we all forget what happened at the vote.
