Starmer's resignation an 'opportunity to get the UK back on track' - Northern Ireland politicians react to Prime Minister's resignation
Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as Labour Party leader less than two years after a landslide general election victory is an opportunity “to get the United Kingdom back on track”, the DUP deputy First Minister has said.
Emma Little Pengelly’s comments came as the Prime Minister revealed that his successor could be in place as soon as July.
The Ulster Unionist MP Robin Swann said a new Prime Minister must be selected swiftly as country needs stability.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the PM’s departure “underscores the chaos of Westminster and how our future is better served by breaking our links with Britain”.
Independent unionist Doug Beattie says that the next Prime Minister “will be quickly defined by defence, security, and legacy issues” – and said stability across the UK’s four nations must be a priority.
Announcing his resignation on Monday morning, Sir Keir said his party was asking whether he was best placed to lead Labour into the next general election, and had accepted the view of his MPs that he was not – before announcing his resignation.
He will be gone by July should Andy Burnham be the only candidate to replace him. However, if there is to be a contest, it will be September before a new Prime Minister is in place.
The current Labour administration has been unpopular across the board in Northern Ireland, with inheritance tax and its approach to the legacy of the Troubles proving most controversial with local politicians.
The deputy First Minister said: “Politics can be a very challenging business - and I wish Sir Keir and his family well as he steps back.
“There is now an opportunity with a change of leadership to get the United Kingdom back on track. The challenges facing our next Prime Minister remain significant.
“We need a UK Goverment that “gets it” - one that has the back of the people, the backs of business and the backs of our farmers. We need a government of action, not waffle. Leadership that delivers results, restores trust, and important achieves economic growth.
“Like with any Prime Minister, I will respect the choice of those who make the decisions and will seek to work constructively.
“Our focus now turns to the task ahead and the change our country needs.
“Restoring the integrity of the UK economic market, a budget for growth and a UK Government that delivers.
Robin Swann said the process to select a new Prime Minister “needs to be swift and clear”. The UUP man said that whoever takes over as Prime Minister “needs to be given the time, space and opportunity to lay out their plans and frontbench team”.
“The impact that this change will have on Northern Ireland is yet to become clear, but the appointments the new Prime Minister, most likely Andy Burnham, makes in the Northern Ireland Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury will make his vision and approach for Northern Ireland will be.
“We will look at this change as an opportunity, and the Ulster Unionist Party will be engaging with the new Prime Minister and their team to put to them our vision and priorities for Northern Ireland and the Union”, the South Antrim MP said.
Michelle O’Neill said that a “hugely different approach is needed” from Sir Keir’s successor.
“People here are not second-class citizens. They deserve proper and fair investment in our public services, real support through the cost of living crisis, and respect for our democratic right to decide our own future”, the Sinn Fein politician said.
Independent unionist MLA Doug Beattie said the Labour leadership change is about party survival, not the national interest
“Keir Starmer never fully got to grips with delivering the decisive change the country needs. He is a decent man, but that is not enough. His failings on key appointments, U‑turns on welfare, lack of candour on legacy issues, and inability to influence his Cabinet on defence and security meant he was unlikely to survive as Prime Minister.
“Unpopularity is always a burden in politics, but once it turns into open rebellion, it becomes unsustainable.”
Mr Beattie highlighted what he said were the likely policy implications of a leadership transition, particularly in relation to defence and legacy issues:
“In practical terms, it is likely that the Defence Investment Plan will secure the funding originally promised, particularly if a new Chancellor replaces Rachel Reeves.
“The veterans’ lobby, already positioning itself for a new Prime Minister, will push for renewed scrutiny of the Northern Ireland Troubles legislation, while the current Secretary of State is likely to defend the legacy framework agreed between the UK and Irish Governments. This approach remains deeply unpopular and continues to create tension between the Ministry of Defence and the Northern Ireland Office.”
The Upper Bann MLA added: “If, as expected, Andy Burnham succeeds Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, his premiership will be quickly defined by defence, security, and legacy issues. Figures on the wings will demand firm commitments to the armed forces and will be vocal if these are not forthcoming.”
He said the next PM would have to prioritise “cohesion and stability, particularly across the four nations of the United Kingdom”.