Burnham says united Ireland poll is 'off the table' during first NI visit

During his first official visit to Northern Ireland, Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that a referendum on Irish unification is 'off the table', citing the long-lasting divisions caused by the Brexit and Scottish independence votes. He emphasized the need to focus on fixing public services and tackling cost-of-living pressures. Burnham met with Stormont's first and deputy first ministers and other party leaders, amid calls for increased funding to address a budget shortfall of up to £1.6bn. He also announced a summit with devolved leaders to boost the UK economy. Reactions from political leaders were mixed, with DUP welcoming his remarks and Sinn Féin criticizing his stance.