Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to return to Belfast as events commemorating the Good Friday Agreement continue. With tensions around Northern Ireland’s relationship with the rest of the UK and the EU still ongoing, the chancellor’s visit comes as a reminder of the importance of the landmark agreement that ensured peace in the region for over 20 years. Sunak’s visit is aimed at forging a stronger bond between the UK government and the people of Northern Ireland, with discussions set to focus on the economy and how best to support businesses in the region post-Brexit.
As the 25th anniversary of the peace deal approaches, British prime minister Rishi Sunak has praised the bravery, creativity and resilience of those who helped to create the Good Friday Agreement. The UK’s leader will make a speech at a conference in Belfast on Wednesday, while other events take place to commemorate the 1998 deal. Sunak met with US President Joe Biden during his visit to Northern Ireland last week and will meet representatives from the US and the Republic during his latest trip.
The North’s power-sharing set-up has been suspended after a boycott by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements. Despite the political impasse, events in the coming days will highlight the peace, economic growth and opportunities that the Good Friday Agreement has delivered.
Queen’s University is hosting a three-day conference, called Agreement 25, which begins on Monday. Among those set to speak are former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and ex-US Senator George Mitchell. The event will be hosted by former Secretary of State and First lady Hillary Clinton, and will feature former U.S President Bill Clinton and former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. The conference will cover the impact and challenges of the treaty, as well as opportunities for future progress.
This marks Sunak’s fifth visit to Northern Ireland since he took office, showing Westminster’s continued interest in post-Brexit Northern Ireland. He has also commended the current generation of young people in Northern Ireland who are active in building a more positive future for themselves and their communities.
During his visit, Sunak will meet key figures from the Good Friday Agreement, and pay tribute to those who have passed away. This will highlight the importance of the spirit of the deal in creating a lasting peace between Northern Ireland and the Republic, which has lasted for 25 years.
In a speech at Ulster University last week, President Joe Biden expressed his hope that there would soon be a return to power sharing in Northern Ireland. He stressed that a stable government could deliver an economic boost to the region.
Sunak’s visit to Northern Ireland, alongside the anniversary celebrations and the Queen’s University conference, demonstrate the continued emphasis that leaders in the UK, Ireland and the US place on the importance of the Good Friday Agreement, which has been instrumental in bringing stability and prosperity to Northern Ireland.
