Prime Minister Andy Burnham has sacked Hilary Benn as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Chris Bryant has been announced as his replacement at the Northern Ireland Office.
In a statement on social media, Benn confirmed he is returning to the backbenches.
“It has been a great privilege to serve as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and to work with the many wonderful people I have met over the last 2 years.
“I wish my successor all the very best in working with the Executive to protect stability, continuing to generate growth and investment and in taking forward the Troubles Bill which is so important for so many families.
“The Prime Minister will have my full support from the backbenches.”
Mr Benn served as Shadow NI Secretary from September 2023 until his appointment to Cabinet in July 2024, when Labour won a landslide majority in the House of Commons.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson has thanked Mr Benn for his service and said the party ‘looks forward to engaging with the incoming Secretary of State’.
“I thank Hilary Benn for his service as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and wish him well for the future.
– Gavin Robinson MP, DUP leader
While we have had significant disagreements on a number of important issues, particularly legacy, the Windsor Framework and the need for Government to act more decisively in Northern Ireland’s interests, those differences were always advanced robustly and respectfully.
The office of Secretary of State carries immense responsibility, and whoever succeeds Mr Benn must recognise the importance of working constructively with all parties whilst working to strengthen Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom, and the need to deliver stable, accountable government that delivers the best services and outcomes for our people here.
The Democratic Unionist Party looks forward to engaging positively with the incoming Secretary of State in the interests of all the people of Northern Ireland.”
SDLP leader Claire Hanna said she found Mr Benn ‘thoughtful, engaged and willing to listen’.
“I would like to thank Hilary Benn for his service as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and wish him well for the future.
“While we did not always agree, I found him to be thoughtful, engaged and willing to listen. That approach stood in marked contrast to some previous Secretaries of State, and I appreciated his willingness to reckon seriously with the challenges facing Northern Ireland.
“Throughout his time in office, the SDLP pressed the need for consistent funding for public services, a legacy framework that properly serves victims and survivors, the protection of arrangements that avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, and the importance of strong north-south and east-west relationships. While progress has been made in a number of these areas, there remains significant unfinished business.
“We particularly welcomed constructive engagement on the need for institutional reform. The SDLP has brought this issue from an abstract discussion to a focused and political priority with engagement from both governments and all parties. There is growing recognition that while political dysfunction in large part an issue of political will, the institutions require updating to ensure they are stable , incentivise good government and capable of delivering for the people they serve.
“The incoming Secretary of State inherits a full and urgent agenda. With a Budget crisis threatening public services and Assembly elections on the horizon, there is little time to lose. We will be pressing the new Secretary of State to ensure momentum is maintained on institutional reform, sustainable public finances and the long-term stability of Northern Ireland’s political institutions.”
– Claire Hanna MP, SDLP leader
