First worldwide chief visits No10 North days after Donald Trump united Ireland row
Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin became the first world leader to visit Andy Burnham at No10 North before visiting the oldest Irish club in the UK, days after Donald Trump sparked a diplomatic flashpoint
Andy Burnham with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the Brian Boru Irish Club in Ashton-in-Makerfield(Image: ADAM VAUGHAN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)
Andy Burnham has welcomed the first-ever visitor to No10 North in Manchester – days after Donald Trump sparked a diplomatic row by calling for a united Ireland.
The PM hosted Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin for a formal meeting before whisking him to the UK’s oldest Irish club – hammering home the importance of the relationship between the two nations.
Mr Burnham said the relationship between the UK and Ireland matters “on every single level”. It comes after the unpredictable US President said he supported the idea of a united Ireland, and suggested Mr Martin could get the process moving.
The PM said: “The relationship between the UK and Ireland matters so much on every single level. Close to home, as co-custodians of the Good Friday Agreement, we are working together to uphold its principles as we approach the 30th anniversary next year. In Europe, we are looking forward to a UK-EU summit later this year and, with Ireland in the presidency, wanting to take further steps to deepen the relationship with Europe.”
The PM took the Taoiseach on a visit to the Brian Boru club, which was founded in 1889 in his Makerfield constituent. Mr Burnham said: “This part of the world has deep links to Ireland, I include myself in that, in terms of my own family history with Liverpool Irish connections.
“But so many people across the whole of the north of England, actually across the whole of the country, have that connection to Ireland, so your visit Micheal today, will be so important to them, they will really welcome the fact that you are here, particularly the people of this part of the world.
“We are working together aren’t we, on so many things, in terms of where we go from here. As I looked at the world as it is right now, Britain and Ireland being close, working together, deepening the partnership, based on those ties, is just important in this changing world.
“Your visit today really cements that.”
The visit came after Mr Burnham’s dad Roy died on Monday. Mr Martin said it had been a “very challenging and difficult week” for teh PM and added: “I think your sense of duty shines through.”
The visit comes amid a furore caused by Mr Trump during a visit to Ireland on Sunday. The US commander-in-chief, who watched the Irish Open at his golf resort in Doonbeg, said: “I have always loved the people of Ireland and it just seems to me that you have Northern Ireland and you have Ireland and it would seem to me that one of the naturals of all time is put them together.
“That’s only my opinion. Many people agree.” He said a united Ireland would “happen eventually” and said Mr Martin was “the right man over here to get it moving”.
The Taoiseach said: “We look forward to discussing with you even stronger and closer relationships between the European Union and the United Kingdom, which will be of benefit to the European Union and indeed to Ireland, quite frankly.”
Mr Martin thanked Mr Burnham for repositioning the UK on the Israel-Palestine conflict after announcing sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. He said: “”I think for the United Kingdom under your leadership to take the stance that its taken, I think, is important for… standing up for humanitarian values and justice and fulfilling the rights of all in the Middle East to security, to peace and to some decent future for their children and generations to come.”
Downing Street said that during the meeting the two leaders discussed the importance of addressing the legacy of the Troubles and working towards lasting reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
