Labour’s new Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, is meeting the five main political parties and the Assembly speaker, on his first visit since his appointment last month.
He will hold meetings with representatives from the DUP, Sinn Fein, Alliance, UUP and SDLP today.
This comes as the Windsor Framework’s green and red lanes came into effect on Sunday, and the DUP’s executive team are to hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss the Windsor Framework.
The Assembly Speaker welcomed Mr Hilary Benn MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to Parliament Buildings today. During his visit, Mr Benn, will meet with the political parties to learn more about the current political situation.#SpeakersVisits pic.twitter.com/VUDcgktT5Z
— Northern Ireland Assembly (@niassembly) October 3, 2023
In his meeting with Sinn Fein, Michelle O’Neill described their discussion as focused on the need to restore the Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Welcome opportunity to meet with Labour Shadow Secretary Hilary Benn at Stormont today.
— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) October 3, 2023
Top of our agenda was the need to restore the Executive and Assembly, with local Ministers back in departments supporting workers and families.
We have enormous economic opportunities… pic.twitter.com/sI5McbWwRL
The Alliance Party leader, Naomi Long MLA, also released a picture of their meeting with Hilary Benn on X.
Pleased to have a constructive meeting with new shadow SOS Hilary Benn. But many of the issues we discussed could and should be resolved in the Assembly by MLAs and it’s crucial we get back to that. pic.twitter.com/4QC4wEcO8n
— Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) October 3, 2023
As well as meeting with political parties, Mr Benn also met with personnel from the Wave Trauma Centre and visited Queen’s University Befast.
