UK and Ireland to hold annual trade and co-operation summit, Starmer says

ITV News Political Correspondent Shehab Khan explains whether the talks between Sir Keir Starmer and Simon Harris were successful

Ireland and the UK are to hold an annual summit on trade and co-operation, the prime minister has announced, during his first official visit to the country.

Sir Keir Starmer said it is a "moment for reset" of relations between the two countries, as he headed to Dublin for a meeting with Taoiseach Simon Harris.

Sir Keir said they had been able to agree the themes and structures of a summit in March 2025, to be held every year thereafter.

Speaking at a roundtable meeting with Irish business leaders, Harris identified justice, climate, culture, education and digitisation as areas of possible collaboration.

Commerce across the Irish Sea, a trade relationship worth €120 billion (£100 billion) a year which supports thousands of jobs, was at the top of the agenda.

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Harris wished Sir Keir "a hundred thousand welcomes" upon his arrival at Farmleigh House - the Irish government's formal reception house for State visits.

The Taoiseach, who described Sir Keir as his friend, said: "It's a really great honour to host you here today on your first official visit to Ireland as prime minister."

Sir Keir said: "It's a pleasure to be here, to have this opportunity that we will take to renew the friendship between our two countries.

"That reset, I think, can be meaningful, it can be deep."

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Harris was the first international leader hosted by Sir Keir in the UK following the July election, in a bid to foster the close relationship.

Sir Keir said meeting Harris twice within his first nine weeks in office as prime minister shows a "real intention" to reset relationships to the "great benefit" of both the UK and Ireland.

The prime minister said he was also seeking a "wider EU [European Union] reset" with the leaders of countries that make up the bloc.

He visited Berlin and Paris last week as a means of building trust with German and French leaders.

Following the meeting with business chiefs, the two leaders were scheduled to attend the Republic of Ireland vs England Nations League football match on Saturday evening.

Both men were earlier presented with Irish and English football scarves, and they also swapped football jerseys.

Sir Keir held up an Irish shirt with his surname on the back and laughed when asked if he would wear it to the match later.

He said: "It will make an appearance in my nine-a-side. This will be proudly worn in north London before too long."

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