Burnham pledges to 'stick to Good Friday Agreement' as PM

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to "stick 100% to the Good Friday Agreement" after he received criticism last week when he told the media that a referendum on a united Ireland was "off the table".

During what was his first official visit to Northern Ireland, when he was asked by the media in Belfast whether he would be "the man at number 10 to press the button for a border poll", Mr Burnham said he was there "to listen and take a collaborative approach".

"Some issues will be off the table, and that is one issue that will be off the table," he added, saying that he "wanted to focus on bringing people together".

The remarks drew an angry response from nationalist politicians, with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald stating that no prime minister has the right to "high-handedly" remove the provision for a unity referendum from the Good Friday Agreement.

Asked about the comments in the House of Commons today, Mr Burnham said the purpose of his visit was "to get functional government in Stormont".

SNP MP for Dundee Central Chris Law put to Mr Burnham that he "has no mandate to defy the constitutional wishes of the people of Northern Ireland, the people of Scotland or the people of Wales".

"Any written constitution or devolution agenda must include a pathway for each of those nations to choose their own future," he added.

"I think (Mr Law) has misunderstood what I actually said," Mr Burnham responded.

"I answered a media question on a visit to Northern Ireland before meeting the various parties and the question was that a proposal was being put to the meeting about a border poll.

"And my answer was that the purpose of the visit was to get functional government in Stormont because, in my view, that would most serve the people of Northern Ireland right now – and I wasn't there to distract onto other issues.

"I’m very aware of every word in the Good Friday Agreement. I will stick to it 100% as Prime Minister."

Mr Burnham added that the Good Friday Agreement was "quite clear on the circumstances" when the issue of a border poll arises.

"But our common challenge right now is functional government in Stormont and I believe everybody should work together to achieve that," the Prime Minister continued.

He added he had asked Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant "to support that process".

Read more: United Ireland referendum 'off the table' - Burnham
Burnham's border poll remarks not a mistake - Bryant

Starmer to step down

Former British prime minister Keir Starmer is to step down as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, a move that will trigger a by-election in the London seat.

In an interview with the Camden New Journal, Mr Starmer said it was the "right time" to step down as an MP and focus on "international affairs".

He told the paper: "It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour government.

"I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.

"I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely.

"It's work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP. So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other."