Benn leaving role as NI secretary - but there's much unfinished business

By

Political correspondent, BBC News NI

Hilary Benn is leaving his job as secretary of state for Northern Ireland, following Andy Burham's Cabinet reshuffle as prime minister.

In a post on X, Benn, who was appointed in 2024, said it had been a "great privilege" to serve in the role and to "work with the many wonderful people I have met over the last two years".

Benn said he wished his successor "all the very best in working with the executive to protect stability, continuing to generate growth and investment and in taking forward the Troubles Bill".

It is not yet known who will replace him.

When Hilary Benn arrived in Belfast a day after the results of the 2024 general election, his first stop as secretary of state was St George's Market.

There he was greeted warmly by market traders and even gifted a piece of artwork, which just happened to be of some pretty colourful carrots.

Was that a nod to the hope he might cultivate brighter relations with Northern Ireland than the Conservatives who came before him had managed?

Probably not - it might have been more to do with Benn's years as a vegetarian - but the symbolism set in course questions for the new man about what he intended to do differently after 14 years of Tories in post.

Those budding relationships with the Stormont parties were quickly tested as old arguments about funding for the executive resurfaced.

Months into the job, Benn gave a speech at Ulster University arguing that if the executive wanted to improve public services, it should look at some ways of revenue raising rather than relying on the Treasury for help.

That plea, just like with calls made by his predecessors, fell on deaf ears as the executive parties maintained Northern Ireland was getting a raw financial deal and on at least one occasion, Westminster stepped in to bridge the budgetary gaps.

As for other gaps in Labour's policy approach in Northern Ireland, the big promise it had made in its election manifesto was to repeal and replace the controversial Troubles legacy act.

Passed under Rishi Sunak's government, parts of it including conditional immunity were deemed unlawful by the courts, while victims and political parties in Northern Ireland had no confidence in it.

But it soon became clear that repealing the previous legislation was one thing; how to replace it quite another.

At time of writing the legislation is still sitting in the Commons, with no sight of the government's amendments on proposed protections for veterans or how it will command confidence of victims and survivors.

The next prime minister, while aware of his government's legal duties, may not want to expend as much political capital on the issue as his predecessor did.

Hilary Benn and Sir Keir Starmer made a core part of their time in office fixing relations with the Irish government, which had been badly bruised during Brexit.

On that front, their government can claim some success as only recently Tanaiste (Irish deputy PM) Simon Harris remarked that relationships between Dublin and London were back to being "the best they'd been since Brexit". Quite a high bar.

It helped that in September 2025 the two sides had agreed a joint framework for dealing with the past, aimed at putting in place a new investigating commission and new legacy arrangements on both sides of the border.

But those plans will be upended now and the new secretary of state will have a major task on their hands when it comes to trying to get this done and keeping the Irish government on side.

During his two-plus years in office, Benn became known among journalists for being incredibly polite and approachable.

But the veteran MP had mastered the political knack of saying a lot without really saying much at all, earning himself the moniker "Slippery Benn", a nod to his ability to give interviews without making messy headlines.

Those who worked alongside him in the Northern Ireland Office say he understood the political tightrope involved in the job, and in that way he succeeded where many of his predecessors failed.

But privately some politicians at times expressed frustration that his approach was evidence of a Labour government telling others what they wanted to hear, but not following it up with their actions.

As a lifelong Spurs fan, Benn enjoyed a lighter moment as secretary of state in the summer of 2025 when he was invited to meet goalkeeper great Pat Jennings in Rostrevor.

Benn described their meeting as "such an honour" and he even got a chance to take a penalty kick against his sporting hero.

As for his government's record on support for sport in Northern Ireland, £50m was made available towards the long-awaited redevelopment of Casement Park in June 2025.

On that front there is little else to add as the final funding plan for the West Belfast stadium has yet to be agreed by the executive and the GAA.

As for Hilary Benn's record, he may have avoided scoring any major own goals as secretary of state, but he leaves his successor with much unfinished business to net agreement on.