Christina Finn

MANY PEOPLE IN the Irish government already have the mobile number of the prospective future UK prime minister, Andy Burnham.

This has been described as a good thing when it comes to what a Burnham-led UK leadership might mean for Ireland. 

In a speech at Downing Street this morning, Keir Starmer said he will step down as Labour leader and will remain as prime minister until a replacement is selected.

Burnham, who won last week’s byelection in Makerfield, has said Starmer’s resignation “marks the beginning of a transition” and he has confirmed he will “put myself forward” for the top job. 

The changing world of UK politics, like it or loathe it, has an impact on this island, so what does Andy Burnham as UK prime minister mean for us? 

Those in Irish government circles have described the possible changeover from Starmer to Burnham as “business as usual”. 

None The Journal spoke to are expecting any surprises from the former Manchester mayor. 

With his north of England history and having been born in Liverpool, Burnham is well aware of Irish concerns, said one senior source. 

Burnham, age 56, was born in 1970 into a working-class family in Aintree, near Liverpool, and grew up in the village of Culcheth, not far from Ashton-in-Makerfield. He reportedly has Irish ancestry roots in Louth. 

Burnham has an interest in Ireland

Speaking in Brussels last week, the Taoiseach said Burnham has taken a “particular interest” in Ireland.

“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,” said Martin. 

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,” said the Taoiseach.

Of those The Journal spoke to, some concerns were raised about Burnham not being in national politics for years and how being a mayor is very different from being prime minister.  

However, others described this thinking as not holding up to scrutiny.

They said has been a very proactive mayor leading lots of trade missions to Ireland, and it was one of the reasons why Manchester was chosen as site of Ireland’s northern England consulate.

Another pointed out that many former UK prime ministers never held executive office before the top job, stating that Burnham has actually run a budget as the Manchester mayor.

“I think he’s probably the most well-prepared British Prime Minister in a long time,” they added, stating that he ran a city with a large population and was also a junior minister as well. 

From an Irish point of view, a pressing issue is legacy and Northern Ireland, but no one said they envisaged any negative change there.

Threat of Reform

Sources spoke about how whoever becomes the next UK prime minister is going to be  hamstrung by the same domestic issues, rooted in Brexit, that Starmer was, with one source stating that the next leader will face huge challenges economically while also having to deal with the likes of the Reform party.

This source said whoever becomes primate minister is infinitely preferable to the chaos of a possible Reform government under Nigel Farage who was described as a man who quite simply hates Ireland and the EU.

With the success of the Reform in the local elections this year, are there concerns about Burnham and what it means for the UK-EU relationship?

The view is Starmer moved closer to the EU because he needed to, particularly on issues of the economy, security, migration and energy, and the thinking of some is the new prime minister will follow the same path. 

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Burnham from strong Brexit ‘Leave’ area

Starmer’s language on the EU was described as practical, but wasn’t exactly overly warm.

When it comes to Burnham, he has been described a pro-EU, but it was pointed out that he downplayed any further integration with the EU during his byelection, as Makerfield was a strong Leave-voting area in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Those in Brussels said this is understood from the EU side as they know Burnham will  downplay it to appease Reform-minded Labour members. 

While there has been chatter in recent years of the UK rejoining the EU one day, sources say that’s not on the radar, even under a Burnham-led government. 

What has the official reactions been from Irish political leaders been to Starmer stepping away?

Taoiseach Micheal Martin conveyed his best wishes to Starmer, acknowledging the significant role he played in resetting the Irish-British relationship as well as relations between the UK and the European Union during his time as prime minister. 

He said since Starmer took office two years ago, he has worked with Irish to set a new direction and depth in the relationship between Ireland and the UK.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said social media that Starmer leaves the UK-Irish relationship “stronger than he found it”. 

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald said Starmer’s resignation is an opportunity to advance relationships between Britain and Ireland in a positive direction.

She said recent electoral victories of Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party press home the reality that pro-independence parties, including Sinn Féin, now play a hugely significant role in Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and present a direct challenge to the Union.