Labor’s ‘right’ not to fund Euro 2028 project

Labor was right not to fund the redevelopment of Casement Park in time for Euro 2028, the shadow foreign secretary has said.

Conservative MP Alex Burghart said he would have made the same decision if he were Northern Ireland Minister Hilary Benn.

Under the last Conservative government, promises were made that money would be available to help fund the construction of the West Belfast stadium in time for the football tournament.

Rishi Sunak said that as prime minister the government would make a “significant contribution” and leave a lasting Euro legacy in Northern Ireland.

But he lost the general election in July and the Labor government confirmed last month that it could not currently fund the stadium due to the risk of it not being ready in time for Euro 2028.

UK government now potential cost estimated at more than £400 million.

Speaking to BBC News NI at the Conservative Party conference on Tuesday, Burghart said he agreed with the Labor government’s assessment that the redevelopment could not happen in time.

“The former foreign secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, was clear that we couldn’t move forward until we agreed on other things,” he added.

“I actually support Hilary Benn’s decision.”

Burghart is backing Kemi Badenoch to become the next Conservative leader.

He said she would be a strong leader for “the whole of the United Kingdom”.

But Burghart, who refused to rule out leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, said the priority was “securing our borders”.

Asked whether it would break the principles of the Good Friday Agreement, Burghart said it would be important to “work things through”.