New Labour leader Keir Starmer congratulated by NI party leaders

Picture, John Devlin. 15/02/2020. GLASGOW. SEC centre, Glasgow G3 8YW

Keir Starmer speaks at event.

LABOUR LEADER AND DEPUTY LEADERSHIP HUSTINGS GLASGOW.

A hustings event for Labour Leader and Deputy Leader is held in Glasgow.

Candidates for Leader of the Labou Party are Lisa Nandy, Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey for the leader.

Candidates for Deputy Leader of the Labou Party are, Rosena Allin-Khan, Richard Burgon, Dawn Butler, Ian Murray and Angela Rayner. — Picture, John Devlin. 15/02/2020. GLASGOW. SEC centre, Glasgow G3 8YW Keir Starmer speaks at event. LABOUR LEADER AND DEPUTY LEADERSHIP HUSTINGS GLASGOW. A hustings event for Labour Leader and Deputy Leader is held in Glasgow. Candidates for Leader of the Labou Party are Lisa Nandy, Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey for the leader. Candidates for Deputy Leader of the Labou Party are, Rosena Allin-Khan, Richard Burgon, Dawn Butler, Ian Murray and Angela Rayner.

Mr Starmer, the MP for Holborn and St Pancras in London, was selected by Labour members to replace Jeremy Corbyn. Greater Manchester Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner was chosen as the new Deputy Leader. Both appointments were announced on Saturday.

SDLP Leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said: “I would like to congratulate Keir Starmer on his election as leader of the Labour Party and the official opposition. His role will be vital in holding the British Government to account in the months and years to come.

“Over the last number of years we have worked closely with Keir during the Brexit process and he has shown an understanding of the North few in Westminster possess. His work with the Policing Board gives him a unique insight into our politics.

Angela Rayner, new deputy leader, pictured at a hustings event in Glasgow in February. Picture John Devlin.

“I have today written to him expressing my congratulations and requesting a meeting to discuss how we can work together.”

Sinn Féin Leas Uachtarán Michelle O’Neill said: “I would like to extend my congratulations to Keir Starmer on his election as leader of the British Labour Party.

“I hope to speak to the new British Labour leader in the coming days. This is a challenging time; we are in the middle of a public health emergency and the next stage of the Brexit negotiations are looming.

“I will raise the need to challenge the British Government’s failure to do widespread community testing to tackle the spread of COVID-19 and urge him to do all in his power to support the demands of frontline workers for necessary PPE.

“I will also be stressing the need to maintain what has been agreed in the Irish Protocol of the Withdrawal Agreement in order to protect the Good Friday Agreement and our economy.”

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