UK PM welcomes Irish leader to Manchester’s No 10 North

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has welcomed his Irish counterpart Micheál Martin to Manchester, making him the first international leader to visit the government’s new No 10 North hub in the city.

Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, met Martin at Heron House in Albert Square, the base of the government’s Number 10 North, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The visit came ahead of Burnham’s planned visit to Makerfield.

Burnham said it was “very fitting” that Martin was the first head of government to visit the site, citing the close ties between north-west England and Ireland.

Pictures showed Burnham greeting Martin outside the building before the two posed for formal photographs inside.

The meeting was also used to discuss closer ties between the UK and the European Union, according to reports.

“The relationship between the UK and Ireland matters so much on every single level,” Burnham said.

“Close to home, as co-custodians of the Good Friday Agreement, we are working together to uphold its principles as we approach the 30th anniversary next year.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev