Stormont’s political parties have urged newly installed Prime Minister Andy Burnham to prioritise Northern Ireland’s budget crisis, funding reform, and political stability as he begins his premiership.

The Stormont Executive has not agreed a budget for the current financial year, forcing public services to operate under contingency arrangements since April. A spending watchdog has identified pressures of up to £1.6 billion. Talks between Labour government representatives and Executive parties were held at Hillsborough Castle earlier this month.

Sinn Féin MP John Finucane said the government must adopt a fairer funding model for Northern Ireland and engage with the constitutional discussion underway. Party leader Mary Lou McDonald added that the approaching 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement requires full implementation of its provisions, including preparations for a referendum on Irish unity.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson pressed for early engagement with the new Prime Minister, stating that political stability in Northern Ireland does not happen by accident. He acknowledged the work of outgoing Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn on legacy issues but said he has difficulties with Benn’s position.

Alliance Party figures Sorcha Eastwood and Naomi Long called for urgent action on public finances and institutional reform. Long said Northern Ireland is widely accepted to be underfunded compared with Scotland and Wales and argued that preventing future collapses of power-sharing must be a priority.

Ulster Unionist MP Robin Swann noted that the House of Commons summer recess means MPs will have no opportunity to question the new Prime Minister for around 50 days. Party leader Jon Burrows said trust in government must be restored and any delivery must be felt in household budgets strained by energy bills, public sector pay, and the cost of childcare and groceries.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said the UK government must take a more strategic approach to Northern Ireland’s fiscal framework. She added that her party would campaign intensively on Stormont reform and long-term constitutional questions.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin congratulated Mr Burnham and said he would work to ensure close cooperation between Ireland and the UK as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. He also indicated he would facilitate stronger UK-EU relations.

Mr Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, has previously stated his support for greater devolution and political reform in Northern Ireland, including during a keynote address at the Alliance Party Conference.