Andy Burnham hosts Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Number 10 North in Manchester

First foreign leader visits Number 10 North

Taoiseach Micheál Martin met British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Manchester on Friday morning, becoming the first foreign head of government to visit the newly established Number 10 North facility. Burnham set up the regional government office shortly after taking office in July 2026 to shift administrative power away from London. The meeting was the first official discussion between the two leaders since Burnham assumed the premiership, following previous discussions when he served as mayor of Greater Manchester. Burnham described the North West as a fitting location for the visit due to extensive Irish cultural and familial connections across the region and the wider country. In addition to formal discussions at Number 10 North, the leaders scheduled a joint visit to an Irish community club located in Burnham's Makerfield constituency.

Commitments to the Good Friday Agreement

The talks focused on bilateral cooperation and the governance of Northern Ireland as both nations approach the 30th anniversary of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Burnham and Martin affirmed their roles as co-custodians of the peace accord, which concluded three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. Burnham stated that the bilateral relationship matters on every level, while Martin emphasized the legal and political duty shared by Dublin and London to maintain the treaty.

“We are co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. We have very significant obligations to mind it and to progress it and so forth.”

The discussion followed recent political debates over Northern Ireland's constitutional status. Burnham had recently stated that a border poll was off the table, drawing criticism from Irish nationalists. The issue gained international attention after US President Donald Trump made remarks favouring a united Ireland, alongside a joint pact signed by the leaders of Sinn Féin, the Scottish National Party, and Plaid Cymru advocating for Irish reunification and independence for Scotland and Wales.

European Union reset and foreign policy

With Ireland holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, both leaders addressed future cooperation between the UK and the European Union ahead of a planned UK-EU reset summit scheduled for later this year. Martin supported establishing closer links across trade, security, and institutional dialogue.

“We look forward to discussing with you even stronger and closer relationships between the European Union and the United Kingdom, which will be of benefit to the European Union and indeed to Ireland, quite frankly.”

Martin also commended the British government for revising its stance towards the administration of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The UK government sanctioned illegal settlements in the West Bank the previous week over settler violence against Palestinian residents. During the exchange, Burnham also thanked the Irish government for the support it has provided to Ukraine in the nearly five years since the Russian invasion began.

Bilateral relations and personal condolences

Martin opened the meeting by offering condolences to Burnham following the death of his father, Roy Burnham, on Monday. The Taoiseach commended Burnham for proceeding with the official summit during a challenging week, noting that his sense of duty was evident. Both leaders noted that regular bilateral engagement remains vital for neighbouring nations navigating wider international uncertainty.