The Taoiseach has said the presumptive challenger to Keir Starmer for the keys to No 10 Downing Street has taken a “particular interest” in Ireland.
Speaking in Brussels as EU government leaders continued their June summit, Micheál Martin congratulated Andy Burnham on his victory in the Makerfield byelection, saying the new Labour MP had a particular interest in Irish economic policy and development.
Burnham is expected to swiftly launch a leadership challenge to incumbent prime minister Starmer, who is fighting for his political life amid widespread discontent within the British Labour Party.
“I congratulate him on his success, I know Andy, I’ve met him on a number of occasions, he’s taken a particular interest in Ireland and he has come to see us on a number of occasions,” Martin told reporters in Brussels on Friday morning.
He said Burnham’s interest was “particularly on [the] economy, and in respect of his role as mayor in Manchester he was particularly focused on Irish economic policy and development”.
Martin is attending the June meeting of the European Council, the group of heads of government of member states which sets the political direction for the bloc.
After discussions on Ukraine and China that continued into the early morning on Friday, focus is expected to shift to the Middle East and the contentious issue of the EU budget.
The Taoiseach said Burnham’s victory in Makerfield, which saw the now-former mayor of Manchester take 55 per cent of the vote to secure the seat for Labour, was a “solid victory”.
“[It] shows what’s possible, despite all the fragmentation, challenges in modern politics – he campaigned well and effectively,” Martin said.
The Taoiseach added he was looking forward to the UK-European Union summit planned for later this year, which will take place during the Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union.
He suggested progress could be made on an electricity market agreement and sanitary and phytosanitary issues, relating to the import and export of agricultural goods, as well as on youth exchange and youth experience programmes.