Number 10 North

Andy Burnham has vowed to seek a closer relationship with the European Union during a meeting with his counterpart, Ireland's Taoiseach, Micheál Martin.

The two leaders met at Number 10 North in Manchester, where both also reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the Good Friday Agreement, after President Trump said he supported a united Ireland.

Here's our political correspondent, Jack Fenwick.

Mikel Martin said Ireland's relationship with the UK under Andy Burnham's premiership had got off to a very good start.

And we're going to talk now about Andy Burnham hosting a series of high prominent leaders.

He's seeing the Irish Prime Minister, the Taoiseach, today at Number 10 North.

It's going to be the first international leader to visit Number 10 North.

That's Micheál Martin, the Taoiseach.

And he dragged Mark Carney north as well, the Canadian Prime Minister, but he didn't mind because apparently they're both Everton fans and they went to watch Everton beat someone in the Carabao Cup.

And Carney, a very important and increasingly important figure, particularly as Canada may be the first of these, this idea of associate member of the EU, which, of course, Trump is absolutely furious about and a good idea.

Yeah, I think it's a good idea.

I just think making them come to number 10 North rather than proper number 10 is mugging them off a bit, isn't it?

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will today become the first foreign leader to meet British Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the new Number 10 North, the new north of England outpost of Downing Street.

The meeting comes after US President Donald Trump's comments last weekend that he was in favour of a united Ireland, followed by an agreement between the leaders of the Scottish National Party, Plaid Simru and Sinn Féin, calling for independence for Scotland and Wales and the reunification of Ireland.

when during a visit to Northern Ireland last month, Mr Burnham said a border poll was off the table, but later clarified that he stood by the Good Friday Agreement.

So they, you know, they know each other and the relationship with Ireland is pretty good at the moment.

And I think it'll go well with Andy Burnham.

But this is... quite a moment in itself that the Taoiseach of Ireland becomes the first international leader to come to number 10 north.

This so far much hyped, but not much seen prime minister's outpost in the north of England, where it's supposed to be a focus for regional development and That, of course, was seized on by the nationalist parties in their press conference on Monday, that if you're into devolution and shifting power to the regions, well, at the very least, we in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland want more power and ideally we want referendums on our future.

So that is very much on the plate of Mr Burnham at the moment.

Our London correspondent, Sean Whelan.

Andy Burnham said he's delighted to be hosting the Taoiseach as the first international leader to visit Number 10 North, one of the flagship projects of Mr Burnham's premiership.

Ireland is the UK's sixth biggest trading partner and the two leaders will discuss plans to boost economic links further.

They will also discuss Northern Ireland, particularly legacy issues, which the Taoiseach said are a priority.

with Keira.

Now, Antishak Mihal Martin has met British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Manchester, being the first world leader to be hosted at Number 10 North.

The discussion between the two leaders was said to be a very strong engagement discussing a range of issues amid global uncertainty.

And for more on this, I'm joined by political commentator and former Sky News political editor.

How has it been received in the UK?

Yeah, that's right.

Well, as you mentioned, this is the first sort of foreign visitor that we've had to Number 10 North.

So that's interesting.

Well, let's go now to Manchester, where the Taoiseach has been meeting the British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham.

Micheál Martin is the first foreign leader to visit the new Number 10 North.

The Taoiseach told reporters it was very important to strengthen bonds between the UK and Ireland.

In a global world marked by a lot of uncertainty, a lot of undermining multilateralism and so on like that, I think it's very important that two close neighbours continue the very strong engagement and familiar sort of interaction.

But I got a kind of an impression of the things that were left unsaid about that.

And that I sense is a growing worry about what's happening on the Arabian Peninsula with the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the disruption to oil supply and the downstream impact that's going to have and indeed is having already on the economies of all the international community.

Sean Whelan at Number 10 North.

Many thanks for that.

The Taoiseach is meeting Mr Burnham in Manchester.

becoming the first international leader to visit number 10 north and this is the new north of england outpost of downing street as well as british irish bilateral issues like trade the two leaders they're going to discuss northern ireland the planned eu uk summit coming up in november and international issues ahead of next week's un general assembly it's their first meeting since andy burnham became the prime minister and they have met before several times, particularly when Mr Burnham was Mayor of Greater Manchester and led trade delegations to Ireland.

Now, Andy Burnham said, I'm delighted to be hosting the Taoiseach as the first international leader to visit Number 10 North.

This is a historic moment and a proud day for Manchester.

He said, Number 10 North is all about creating opportunities for working people and our partnership with Ireland as we improve the lives of people in both of our countries is a key part of that.

He said, there's so much we can achieve together and from our shared commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, to trade, to working with Europe and supporting Ukraine.

We're the closest of friends, he said, and I look forward to further strengthening that friendship.

It's the Higher Education Show.

MPs say students have been missold their loans, but as students demonstrate in front of Number 10 North, will ministers actually act on it? Meanwhile, the regulator set out new rules on free speech, but does the evidence back them up? And has OFS learned its lessons? It's all coming up.

Here we are again then, the Higher Education Show, your weekly way into this week's higher education news, policy and analysis from the team here at Wonky.

I'm our Associate Editor, Jim Dickinson, and from the team, DK's here.

Your highlight of the week, DK?

I've been working with the British Academy on a really interesting project looking at the wider value of the creative and humanities and social sciences graduate it's been a really interesting set of discussions and a number of roundtables with quite the cast of characters i have to say

fantastic mckenzie marshall uh unofficial one of our two unofficial number 10 north correspondents but also officially our editorial coordinator mac what's been your highlight this week

very simple highlight of the week jim i've got charlie xx tickets for next year very pleased

The Taoiseach will meet the British Prime Minister today for the first time since Andy Burnham took office.

The talks are taking place in Number 10 North in Manchester.

News Talk's Jessica Woodlock is there.

This meeting is taking place at a significant time for British-Irish relations.