“I, and colleagues, look forward to meeting with the Prime Minister at Parliament Buildings tomorrow. As we said during the election campaign we will speak up for Northern Ireland and make the case for its people at every opportunity.
I welcome Hilary Benn’s arrival as Secretary of State, and we had a very detailed and useful hour-long meeting with him at Hillsborough on Saturday evening. The Secretary of State has been significantly engaged on all the issues, including the arrangements that led to the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly earlier this year.
The Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been elected with a significant electoral mandate across Great Britain. We will work with his new Government in a constructive way to make Northern Ireland work and make the case for investment, as well as fair and sustainable funding for our essential public services.
I welcome the commitment from the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State that the election outcome again reaffirms support for our place within the United Kingdom and that this new government intends to treat all parts and regions of the Kingdom with respect. Now is a time for new beginnings.
The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State are aware of our position that working on the progress to date we continue to argue to fully restore Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom. I look forward to hearing from the PM on his plans for the UK’s future relations with the European Union and his plans to ensure barriers within the United Kingdom are removed.”