Starmer to visit Ireland in early September, Taoiseach confirms

British prime minister Keir Starmer (right) with Taoiseach Simon Harris during a bilateral meeting at Chequers, the country house of the serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Picture: Carl Court/PA Wire

UK prime minister Keir Starmer will visit Ireland on September 7, the Taoiseach has confirmed.

Speaking at the UK prime minister's country home of Chequers, Simon Harris said that Mr Starmer had accepted the offer of a return visit.

Mr Harris said that he was leaving Chequers with no doubt that the UK has a prime minister who wants to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Mr Harris said that the two leaders had agreed a new system by where Ireland and the UK would hold a summit each year led by the leader of each country.

Keir Starmer (right) welcomes Simon Harris to Chequers, the country house of the serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Picture: Carl Court/PA Wire

He said that Mr Starmer wants to have a mature relationship with the EU and that Ireland has a "unique understanding" of the UK position.

"I can't overstate the significance of tonight's meetings with the prime minister around how important a reset of relations is. It's very easy to have a slogan around this. This is not a slogan to Keir Starmer."

Mr Harris said that there is leadership in "Dublin, London and Belfast" which is committed to working together. He said that the relationship had suffered due to a lack of face to face meetings.

He added that Mr Starmer's government's abandoning of the Rwanda policy was "helpful".