Hilary Benn leaves NI job with no own goals but much unfinished business

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.