UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer began a historic visit to Ireland on Saturday, September 7, marking the first visit by a British leader to the country in five years.
Starmer’s visit aims to "reset" the strained post-Brexit relationship between the UK and Ireland.
Described by Downing Street as a "historic moment for UK-Ireland relations," the visit symbolizes a significant warming of ties that had become strained during the tenure of the previous Conservative government in the UK.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris greeted Starmer in Dublin, where the two leaders posed for photographs and shook hands before engaging in discussions. Harris emphasized the importance of the visit, stating, "Today we're in Dublin to flesh out what a reset actually looks like ... in a practical sense for our citizens on both islands." He highlighted that the reset should be grounded in principles of peace, prosperity, mutual respect, and friendship.
Starmer echoed Harris's sentiments, emphasizing the significance of this diplomatic reset, saying, "It can be meaningful. It can be deep," stressing its importance to his government.
Before a round table with business leaders, Harris mentioned that their meeting had been highly productive and that they had agreed to hold an annual summit, with the first planned for March 2025. Both leaders also reaffirmed their shared roles as guardians of the Good Friday Agreement, a 1998 accord that brought an end to decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.
The agenda for their discussions also included fostering economic growth and aligning their responses to international crises, where both leaders noted strong alignment in their perspectives.
Shift in Tone
Harris, who became Ireland's prime minister in April, was also the first foreign leader welcomed by Starmer in the UK following his landslide election victory in July. The two previously shared a friendly conversation over pints of Guinness at Chequers, Starmer's country residence, ahead of a larger meeting of European leaders.
This focus on "resetting" Anglo-Irish relations marks a significant shift from the previous years of tension between London and Dublin, which intensified following the UK's decision to leave the European Union after the 2016 Brexit referendum. Boris Johnson’s approach to Brexit, especially his "hard break" from the EU, was seen as destabilizing relations between Ireland, an EU member, and Northern Ireland.
Since taking office, Starmer has sought to reverse some of the controversial legislation from Johnson’s time, including a law offering conditional immunity to individuals involved in crimes during the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, a move strongly opposed by victims’ families.
During Saturday’s talks, the leaders reiterated their commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and reconciliation efforts in Northern Ireland.
Later that evening, Starmer and Harris were scheduled to attend a Nations' League football match between Ireland and England. Photo by Bellatrix, Wikimedia commons.