Taoiseach thanks Andy Burnham for ‘standing’ up for needs and rights of Palestinian people

Taoiseach Micheál Martin praised the stance taken on Israel and Palestine by British prime minister Andy Burnham as the two leaders met in Manchester on Friday morning.Martin, the first world leader invited to Burnham’s new No 10 North operation, thanked Burnham for “standing up for the humanitarian needs and rights” of the Palestinian people.In a “reset” of its policy towards Israel, the UK government last week sanctioned illegal settlements in the West Bank over violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinian residents.Martin also commiserated with the Labour Party leader over the loss of his father Roy Burnham, who died on Monday.READ MOREIn remarks in front the cameras before their one-to-one meeting, Burnham reiterated his commitment to the Belfast Agreement. He had angered Irish nationalists in recent weeks by saying a Border poll was “off the table”.US president Donald Trump’s comments last weekend about favouring a united Ireland, as well as an agreement between the leaders of the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin calling for independence for Scotland and Wales and the reunification of Ireland, have added fuel to the debate.Burnham also thanked the Republic for the support it has shown to Ukraine since the Russian invasion almost five years ago.“The relationship between the UK and Ireland matters so much on every single level,” said Burnham.Burnham established No 10 North as one of his first acts in office in an attempt to rebalance power and control in Britain by moving some matters away from London. This is the first meeting between the leaders since Burnham took office in July, though they met previously when he was mayor of Manchester.The agenda for their meeting is also expected to include Irish-UK relations and the long-delayed EU-UK reset summit, which is due to take place before the end of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.