Britain is ready to renew its 'profound’ partnership with Ireland

British ambassador Paul Johnston writes that Keir Starmer’s appointment as prime minister ushers in a new era for Britain — not least in terms of its relationship with Ireland

Then British opposition leader Keir Starmer and then taoiseach Micheál Martin in Dublin in 2022. Ambassador Paul Johnson says Mr Starmer wants to work closely with Ireland on Northern Ireland, including the Good Friday Agreement and legacy issues, and matters including trade and energy independence. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA

On Friday night, having been through a six-week campaign, a largely sleepless election night, and the intense pressures of his first day as prime minister, you could have forgiven Keir Starmer for taking some time off.

Instead, just before 8pm, rather than preparing to watch as I was, Portugal v France, he was making his first calls to his new counterparts as heads of government.