Burnham's first 50 days will show whether Northern Ireland sits at the top of his in-tray or the bottom

Ulster Unionist South Antrim MP Robin Swann has said that Andy Burnham's early decisions as Prime Minister, particularly his Cabinet appointments to the Treasury, the Northern Ireland Office and Defence, will have immediate and long-term implications for Northern Ireland.

Commenting ahead of the new premiership, Robin Swann said:

“Burnham's premiership is still full of the unknown. His offer of change will be demonstrated by his Cabinet picks: will it be a simple reshuffle of the current cohort with a few new faces? And how will he manage the fallout from those who expect something but are disappointed?

“The challenges that Sir Keir Starmer faced on the world stage and at home haven't changed, yet currently we haven't actually heard much from Andy Burnham. It will be 50 days from when he takes office until MPs in the House of Commons have a chance to question him, on anything! A new leader is usually given 100 days to set their agenda and make their mark; it seems Andy Burnham wants to do this as far away from MPs as possible.

“For us, his choices for the Treasury, the Northern Ireland Office and Defence will have immediate and long-term implications. Will there be a new financial settlement for the Executive? Will there be Executive reform? Will he be able to hold the Executive together this side of the next Assembly election? And when will we see the next iteration of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bills? Where will these issues sit in an in-tray that already contains US relations, the war in Ukraine, the war in Iran, and whatever else appears in the next 50 days?”