Keir Starmer has pledged to repeal the controversial Legacy Act, which offered immunity to Troubles-era crimes in Northern Ireland, and discussed replacement legislation with the Irish prime minister during a wide-ranging discussion on July 17.
In December the Irish government began a legal challenge against the UK government over the act, introduced by the Conservatives, which was opposed by all five main parties in Northern Ireland, action that is now likely to be abandoned.
Speaking to reporters, the prime minister, Simon Harris, said Starmer and he had agreed to “work together” on what the appeal of the Legacy Act might look like.
“Not only now do we have the manifesto of Keir Starmer’s party committing to repealing and replacing the legacy act, we now have the king’s speech of the prime minister’s government outlining its commitment to repealing and replacing, so the prime minister and I had the opportunity to discuss that this evening, and we’ve also agreed to work together on what replacement might look like.
“I must say, I find it so refreshing and so encouraging to hear a British prime minister now using that language,” said Harris.
Starmer hopes the discussion will start a reversal of almost a decade of strained relations with Ireland.
He agreed to make a formal visit to Ireland on 7 September, the night of an Ireland-England Nations League football match, while Harris pledged to support the UK’s attempt to reset its relationship with the EU, describing the possibility of a UK-EU summit as something that had “certain merits”.
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