New NI secretary Hilary Benn meets local parties

Hilary Benn has met some of the main Stormont parties on his first visit to Northern Ireland since being appointed as secretary of state.

He met the first and deputy first ministers as well as representatives from the UUP and SDLP.

Mr Benn took over the role on Friday after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister.

Mr Benn said his priority was to establish a new relationship between the UK Government and the Stormont Executive.

The secretary of state met the local representatives at Hillsborough Castle on Saturday, after attending a cabinet meeting in London earlier in the day.

Mr Benn, who had been the shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland since September 2023, said he was "deeply honoured" to have been appointed to the role of secretary.

In a statement, he said he wanted to get to work as "quickly as possible" and was therefore pleased to be able to hold initial discussions with First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, as well as representatives from other parties.

“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," he said.

On the controversial topic of legacy, Mr Benn said he wanted to ensure that there was a "a system in place for addressing the legacy of the past" which "wins support from victims’ families and that all communities can have confidence in, and which is compliant with human rights.”

Mr Benn said his meeting with the first and deputy first ministers was “very constructive” and that he was looking forward to building their relationship in the coming months.

The Secretary of State said that the new UK Government is committed to the Good Friday Agreement and to "the principle of consent that is at its heart".

On Friday evening, Mr Benn spoke to the Tánaiste Micheál Martin on the phone.

Addressing the relationship with Dublin, Mr Benn said: “As our nearest neighbour and co-guarantor of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, our relationship with Ireland is of great importance."

He said that “the new UK Government will work closely with the Irish Government to reset and strengthen the relationship" between them.

Hilary Benn has been appointed the new Northern Ireland secretary following the Labour Party's general election victory.

He is a veteran parliamentarian representing Leeds Central in the House of Commons since 1999 and now, the new Leeds South constituency.

He had been the shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland since September 2023.

He also served in the cabinet from 2003 to 2010 under Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.