Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, has condemned the recent racial disorder in Northern Ireland as “intolerable” and “racist”. He visited the province to meet with frontline officers and members of ethnic minority communities impacted by the violence. Starmer praised the efforts of the PSNI officers who sustained injuries while trying to quell the unrest. He emphasized that the disorder is unjustifiable and does not represent the modern Northern Ireland he knows.
Starmer pledged to work with the PSNI and all communities to address the disorder and its consequences. Additionally, Starmer addressed concerns about the timing and cost of developing Casement Park for the Euro 2028 football tournament. He stated that there are issues that need to be addressed regarding the stadium’s renovation.
Meanwhile, UUP MLA Mike Nesbitt expressed shock over Doug Beattie’s decision to step down as the UUP leader. He stressed the importance of addressing internal matters within the party. Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin praised Beattie for his leadership through challenging times and emphasized the need for a strong relationship between the Irish government and political leaders in Northern Ireland.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson called for efforts to maximize the pro-Union vote in future elections, acknowledging divisions within unionism. Robinson also paid tribute to Beattie and highlighted their shared commitment to a united Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Secretary Hillary Benn thanked Beattie for his leadership and expressed readiness to work with his successor. Plans for emergency measures to address prison crowding in northern England were also discussed, with authorities expecting to activate and deactivate measures to manage overcrowding.
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