Burnham and Ireland’s Taoiseach Reaffirm Commitment to Good Friday Agreement

UK prime minister Andy Burnham met Ireland's taoiseach, Micheál Martin, at No 10 North on Thursday, in what was reported to be the first time the venue has been used to host an overseas visit, according to the Guardian's live political coverage.

During the meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the Good Friday agreement, the 1998 accord that brought an end to decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.

Martin also thanked Burnham for his government's stance on Israel, according to the report. Support for the Palestinian cause is described as particularly strong in Ireland, which the report attributes to the country's historical experience of colonialism.

Referring to sanctions imposed by Burnham's government on West Bank settlements, Martin was quoted as saying: "I think for the United Kingdom under your leadership to take the stance that it's taken, I think, is important for … standing up for humanitarian values and justice and fulfilling the rights of all in the Middle East to security, to peace and to some decent future for their children and generations to come."

The meeting took place against the backdrop of continued attention on the Good Friday agreement, which established devolved government in Northern Ireland and set out mechanisms for cooperation between the UK and Ireland.

Separately, the report notes that the UK Youth Parliament, formed in 1999, brings together more than 300 democratically elected representatives aged 11 to 18 from across the country to debate issues affecting young people, with an annual debate held in the House of Commons chamber.