Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin to Meet UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at No 10 North
Micheál Martin will become the first foreign leader to hold talks at the newly created No 10 North office with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin is scheduled to travel to Manchester for a bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the newly established No 10 North office, becoming the first foreign leader to do so. After a private tête-à-tête, the two leaders will convene with senior officials to discuss issues such as Irish-UK relations, the situation in Northern Ireland and the long-delayed EU-UK reset summit slated before the end of Ireland’s EU presidency.
Burnham, who created the Manchester office as part of his plan to rebalance power away from Downing Street, took office in July and previously met Martin when he was mayor of Manchester. The talks come amid US President Donald Trump’s recent comments favoring a united Ireland and a joint declaration by the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin urging independence for Scotland and Wales and reunification of Ireland.
Martin has emphasized legacy issues and urged the British government to clarify the conditions under the Good Friday Agreement that would trigger a border poll. The next UK-Ireland summit is planned for the UK next year.
Why it matters
The visit tests the new Manchester prime ministerial office and could influence Irish-British cooperation on Northern Ireland and EU matters.
How this story developed
- Sep 12 Pro-independence leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set to sign breakup pact in Cardiff
- Sep 13 The leaders are presenting the Cardiff gathering as a party‑leader dialogue rather than a formal inter‑governmental summit.
- Sep 13 Mary Lou McDonald attended the Cardiff signing and DUP deputy Emma Little‑Pengelly denied O’Neill’s authority to represent Northern Ireland’s first‑ministerial office.
- Sep 15 Leaders signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the UK government to prepare independence referendums for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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