Reset - that’s the word of the day and indeed the overriding theme of the post-election era which has seen the arrival of Keir Starmer’s Labour Government.
The exit of the unlamented Conservative Government after 14 years dominated by chaos, disunity and internal and external strife has opened up an opportunity for new relationships between the UK and its various regional and international partners.
It really is a relief to see a set of new politicians at the heart of government and the early indications for this region are positive; both the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State are tuned in to Northern Ireland issues, they have experience of working here and they have an air of good faith which is a change, a welcome change.
Of course optics matter and whoever positioned Simon Harris and Keir Starmer outdoors at Chequers with pints of Guinness last week deserves a lifetime PR award, but it is the substance which lies beneath the photo ops which ultimately will decide the future course for the UK and its external relationships.
We know too well here that the longer the gap between goodwill driven optimism and actual policy delivery, the more damaging the impact on politics and society.
So how might a renewed and mature collaboration between the UK and the Repulic of Ireland impact on the north?
It was announced last week that Starmer will visit Dublin on the day England play the Republic of Ireland on September 7 and that there will now take place an annual summit between the two nations.
The repeal of the Legacy Act which attracted support from no political party here was signalled in advance of the July 4 election and was to the fore in the King’s Speech last week.
That An Taoiseach was the first foreign leader to meet the Prime Minister formally at his summer residence is also symbolic as well as substantial.
It is a far cry from the very strained relations which almost collapsed under the weight of Brexit, unbalanced political patronage and Tory ignorance.
The presence of Sue Gray at the heart of the Downing Street administration is also a positive for Northern Ireland.
She is another figure with vast experience of life and politics here and an instinct for what is beneficial to this region.
If that means that the needs and challenges faced by Northern Ireland receive proper or even disproportionate attention, then great, bring it on!
And I don’t just mean that her presence and efforts, alongside the public statements of new Secretary of State Hillary Benn, may bring the prospect of a redeveloped Casement Park closer to reality - though I believe it does just that.
But we know we have needs here around funding and the delivery of public services which are deep, historic and which do indeed require political attention and action.
Will this Labour Government deliver the change we need, to partner the executive in a programme of investment and transformation?
It’s possible and what is virtually certain is that the previous government would not have done so.
Some of us are still deeply frustrated at the refusal of either major party in the UK to face up publicly and politically to the ongoing damage caused by Brexit, and even now Labour loudly proclaim that we will not be re-entering the Single Market or the Customs Union.
But it is still gratifying to hear Keir Starmer saying he is starting out on a new relationship with Europe and that ‘Britain will be a friend and a partner, not part of the European Union but very much part of Europe.’
That’s a start and something we would never have heard from a Conservative Foreign Secretary or Prime Minister.
So within a couple of weeks the Government has set out on a new relationship with Europe, with Ireland and even with Northern Ireland.
The ‘reset’ theme may be tested to the extreme if Trump prevails in the USA in November but let’s hope that Starmer and co don’t have to face that dark scenario.
Reset, renewal, a new approach to doing politics and the delivery of public services.
The wider UK population has reason to be cautiously optimistic and the possibility of the new political context. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Can we have our own reset here please?
Brendan Mulgrew is managing partner at MW Advocate. Follow him on X at @brendanbelfast.
