Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheal Martin have hosted the first UK-Ireland summit in Liverpool. Starmer said the two countries have “reset our relationship” and “turned a page on turbulent recent years.”
Martin said, “This summit is one of the most significant bilateral engagements between the British and Irish Governments in a generation and shows the resolve of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and I to put in place the building blocks to bring strategic co-operation between our two countries to a new level.”
This summit was the first of its kind, and the Taoiseach and Prime Minister agreed on a wide range of cooperation between both countries that will be taken forward through to 2030.
They held a round-table discussion with business leaders to hear their views on opportunities and challenges on trade between the islands.
Starmer emphasised the change in world stability in recent years, saying, “I think we can all agree that our world is more unstable and uncertain than it’s been for a very long time.”
He said there are “huge benefits” to strengthening relationships between the countries.
Martin spoke about the cultural ties between the UK and Ireland, saying, “The Prime Minister and I are committed to harnessing the potential of our partnership to deliver economic, political and social benefits for people across these islands.”
“The United Kingdom is a key strategic partner for Ireland and I welcome the renewed shared ambition to reach the potential of our partnerships across our islands,” he added.
