PM stands 'full square behind' Good Friday Agreement

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant has said he and Prime Minister Andy Burnham "stand full square" behind all of the Good Friday Agreement, including its provisions for a border poll.

During his first visit to Northern Ireland on Thursday, Burnham said a border poll was "off the table" and that votes on Brexit and Scottish independence showed the "risks that come from those situations take a long time to heal".

However on Friday, Sir Chris said the point Burnham was making was that discussions for a border poll were "not on the table" during discussions on Thursday.

"He was not making a general statement about the whole future of the Good Friday Agreement," Sir Chris said.

Burnham met Stormont's first and deputy first ministers and the leaders of the Northern Ireland Assembly's main parties during the visit.

He said the focus should be on public services and tackling cost-of-living pressures.

The Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, was a political deal designed to bring an end to 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles.

It was signed on 10 April 1998 and approved by public votes in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.