THE leaders of the main Stormont parties met the British government’s new Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn on Saturday at Hillsborough Castle.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill and the Democratic Unionist Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly attended as well as representatives from other parties including the Ulster Unionist Party and the Social Democratic & Labour Party.

Ms O’Neill said: “We strongly made the case for fair funding to be provided urgently for health, education and public services here.”

Mr Benn described the meeting with the Stormont leaders as very constructive.

He told reporters: “My immediate priorities are to establish a new relationship between the British government and the Northern Ireland executive as we work together to foster economic growth and prosperity, and to improve public services.”

Mr Benn said the new government was committed to the Good Friday Agreement and to the “principle of consent that is at its heart.”

Soon after being appointed as secretary of state on Friday, Mr Benn spoke with the Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin.

Mr Benn said: “As our nearest neighbour and co-guarantor of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, our relationship with Ireland is of great importance.

“The new British government will work closely with the Irish government to reset and strengthen the relationship” between them.