Taoiseach pays tribute to Keir Starmer for 'setting new direction' in Irish-UK relationship

Taoiseach Micheál Martin greets United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer on arrival at Fota House, Co Cork, in March as the two leaders met for the second UK-Ireland Summit. Photograph: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has paid tribute to outgoing British prime minister Keir Starmer for “setting a new direction and depth in the relationship between Ireland and the UK”.

Mr Starmer announced his resignation on Monday morning following increasing pressure from within the Labour Party.

Following his victory in last week’s by-election in Makerfield, Andy Burnham confirmed that he will seek to become the new leader of the party, which would make him Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade.

The Taoiseach said that Mr Starmer had played a “significant role” in resetting the Irish-British relationship, as well as relations between the UK and the European Union following Brexit.

“Since Keir took office two years ago, he has worked with us to set a new direction and depth in the relationship between Ireland and the UK, for the benefit of all our citizens, north-south and east-west,” Mr Martin said.

“Our two governments also took an important step forward in dealing with the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland, publishing a Joint Framework on addressing the legacy of the Troubles.

“Keir is a person of great ability, decency and honour, and I want to wish him, his wife Victoria and their family, very well in their next chapter.” 

As attention turns to Mr Starmer’s successor, the Taoiseach said that he had “no doubt” that they would “wish to continue to deepen and strengthen the relationship between the UK and Ireland”.

“We will continue to work in furtherance of that objective,” he added.

Mr Starmer made several trips to Ireland during his premiership, most recently visiting Cork for the British-Irish summit. This summit was established in July 2024 by then-taoiseach Simon Harris, following several tumultuous years in relations after Britain’s decision to leave the EU.

Nominations for leadership of the Labour Party will open on July 9 and will close by the time Westminster breaks for summer recess on July 16.

It is now expected that Mr Burnham could be the only person to contest the election, as former health secretary Wes Streeting weighed in behind the former Mayor of Greater Manchester.