Sir Keir Starmer to visit Dublin and Belfast amid Northern Ireland Protocol row

Sir Keir Starmer will meet Irish political leaders in Dublin on Thursday, with the ongoing dispute over post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland expected to dominate discussions.

The Labour leader arrived in Dublin on Wednesday evening for a dinner with the British-Irish Chamber, before meeting Speaker Michael D. Higgins and Taoiseach Micheal Martin on Thursday.

His first visit to Ireland as Labour leader comes as the UK government proposes controversial legislation to override the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Sir Keir, who will visit Belfast as part of the trip, will also meet Irish Foreign Secretary Simon Coveney and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.

Irish Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik will also meet Sir Keir in the Irish capital.

On Friday, the Labour leader will be in Belfast to meet political leaders at Stormont, where he is expected to call for a deal and negotiation to end the political impasse over the return of the power-sharing Executive.

Addressing business leaders, Sir Keir said: “Now is not the time for games, but for practical solutions, based on trust. And because this is how business operates, it is vital that you are at the table, and that your voice is heard.”

The Chamber’s director general, John McGrane, said: “Today’s meeting with Sir Keir Starmer is extremely timely and important, given the urgent need for all parties to work together and find pragmatic solutions to the Northern Ireland Protocol.

“It is vital that politics does not get in the way.”