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New British PM Andy Burnham (left) and Taoiseach Micheál Martin Alamy
No you hang up
Taoiseach and new British PM Andy Burnham discuss the North and Ukraine during first phone call
Martin described the discussion as ‘very good’ and said they talked about the ‘positive relationship between Ireland and the UK’.
NEW BRITISH PRIME Minister Andy Burnham and Taoiseach Micheál Martin have discussed legacy issues in the North and Ukraine during their first phone call.
Burnham became prime minister on Monday and is the seventh British PM since 2016.
He pledged that his premiership would be “a circuit breaker for Britain” and that he would lead the “biggest changes in the last 40 years” in politics and economics.
Martin spoke with Burnham this morning said it was “great” to speak with the new prime minister.
Martin described the discussion as “very good” and added that they talked about the “positive relationship between Ireland and the UK”.
Great to speak to new UK PM Andy Burnham this morning.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) July 21, 2026
Very good discussion on the positive relationship and cooperation between Ireland and the UK. pic.twitter.com/ej6mqRoxqZ
The Taoiseach added that they “discussed Northern Ireland including ongoing work on Legacy, Ukraine, Ireland’s EU Presidency and the EU-UK relationship”.
Martin said he is looking forward to meeting Burnham soon and “working closely together to benefit the people across these islands”.
Meanwhile, Burnham also spoke with the first and deputy first minister of Northern Ireland today, Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill and the DUP’s Emma Little-Pengelly.
O’Neill said she “made it clear that a serious change in the approach of the British Government is needed”.
Today I spoke with the new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and made it clear that a serious change in the approach of the British Government is needed.
— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) July 21, 2026
The sustained cuts and underfunding of public services imposed by Westminster must end.
There must also be urgent and…
She added that the “sustained cuts and underfunding of public services imposed by Westminster must end” and that there must be “urgent and meaningful support to help families and small businesses through this cost-of-living crisis”.
O’Neill also said that they discussed the “enormous political change taking place in Ireland, as people from every background across this island increasingly see their future as best served in a new and united Ireland”.
“The democratic right of the people of Ireland to determine our own future must be fully acknowledged and respected,” said O’Neill, who added that she “wished Andy well as he takes office”.
Little-Pengelly meanwhile said she “raised the need to strengthen the United Kingdom”.
This morning I spoke with the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP. I raised the need to strengthen the United Kingdom, to have a budget and policies for economic growth across the UK and to remove any remaining barriers to internal UK Trade arising… pic.twitter.com/ewTkrrst1O
— Emma Little-Pengelly BL (@little_pengelly) July 21, 2026
She also called for the removal of “any remaining barriers to internal UK Trade arising from the Windsor Framework”.
“I particularly welcome the push back from the PM on those who wanted to prioritise constitutional change and the break up of the Union,” said Little-Pengelly.
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