is holding meetings in Belfast this afternoon with
the leaderships of all five parties in the Northern Ireland
Executive.
This is part of the Labour leader's two-day visit to Northern
Ireland alongside Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, Lou Haigh.
Across Thursday and Friday, Starmer will also meet with senior
police officers at the PSNI, prominent peace campaigners, victims
and survivors of the Troubles, and young people at an integrated
school.
On the visit, Starmer will renew Labour's commitment to
safeguarding the Good Friday Agreement and warn that Boris
Johnson’s current approach risks stability in Northern Ireland.
Speaking ahead of meetings at Stormont with all party leaders in
the Northern Ireland Executive, said:
“The Good Friday Agreement and its promise of peace must never be
taken for granted. Returning to Northern Ireland today, I can see
how much is still at stake.
“The peace here was built on the trust, courage and commitment of
the communities of Northern Ireland and political leaders. I felt
that while working here in the years after Good Friday. And it is
with those values in mind that I will go into today’s important
meetings.
“This morning, I saw the transformation that peace helped bring
about at an integrated school in Belfast. I saw the smiles of
hope from young people as they look to the future. Whether we are
in Westminster or Stormont, as political leaders we owe it to
that generation to deliver on the promise of the Good Friday
Agreement.
“We must recognise that trust is fragile, and progress is
stalling. I understand the concerns of communities and businesses
here about the problems with the Northern Ireland Protocol. I’m
here to listen and to call for serious, practical solutions."
