Why the UK and Irish Leaders Met in Manchester
Andy Burnham was due to meet Ireland's leader Micheál Martin in Manchester at 10am on 18 September 2026. Martin's title is Taoiseach, which means prime minister in Ireland. They were to meet at No 10 North, the government's office in Manchester.
This was the first time Burnham had used No 10 North to host a foreign leader, according to the live record of the day's engagements The Guardian. No 10 said holding meetings there was meant to show parts of the UK outside London. Just before this, Burnham had hosted Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney in Liverpool and NATO chief Mark Rutte in Oxford. He had also met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Portsmouth. Manchester was next, and the first with the No 10 North name for a foreign guest.
Burnham and Martin planned to talk about trade, support for Ukraine, and working with the EU while Ireland holds the EU presidency, the turn Ireland takes chairing EU meetings. After the talks they were to visit an Irish community centre. On the same day, UK Chancellor John Healey was in Dublin for an informal Ecofin meeting, a meeting of EU finance ministers. He had been invited to join, which put a UK minister in the room outside the usual meetings held since Brexit. London planned to use that chance.
Healey planned to ask for an exception from the EU's 'Made in Europe' buying rules, which are rules about how governments choose what to buy The Guardian. Think of them like a shop-local rule for governments. Treasury sources said Healey would ask the EU to use the rules in a way that 'lands a good deal for all' and does not create 'new barriers'.
Burnham and Martin already knew each other. Burnham had met Martin several times when he was mayor of Greater Manchester, including in Ireland. When Burnham became prime minister, Martin called him 'a great champion of deeper links between Ireland and Britain' The Guardian. On 24 August 2026 Burnham said Britain must be 'bolder' in building closer ties with the EU Reuters. His office said he told EU Council President António Costa that Britain should build on defence and security work with European allies. On 3 September Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron talked about getting the UK 'closer to Europe' Reuters.
Burnham had said he would not call a vote on Irish unification, calling a border poll 'off the table' ITV. A border poll means a vote on whether Northern Ireland should leave the UK and join Ireland. That comment caused a political row. On 12 September US President Donald Trump said he would 'love' to see Northern Ireland join Ireland. On the same day, a spokesperson said Burnham's position had not changed after Trump's words Reuters. No new policy was announced.
The broader context here is that there were two tracks at once. Manchester was for the leaders' talks on trade, Ukraine and Ireland's EU presidency. Dublin was for the detail on buying rules with finance ministers.
Looking at what this means for the UK and EU, Ireland is a useful person to talk to because it is in the EU and also closely linked to the UK on trade, Northern Ireland and Ukraine. Any exception to the buying rules must be agreed by all EU countries together, not by Ireland alone. Talking early with Dublin can still help London understand what is possible before plans become fixed.
In my view, the places matter too, not just the words. Liverpool, Oxford, Portsmouth and now Manchester show a habit of meeting outside London. That can help more people at home feel part of foreign policy, but it can also spread work thin. What happens next on the buying rules will depend on what Healey heard in Dublin and what Burnham and Martin agreed to do together.
