Shailesh Vara says his ‘immediate priority’ is to restore powersharing

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy New Northern Ireland Secretary Shailesh Vara has said that his “immediate priority” will be to restore the Assembly and the Executive as soon as possible. “I look forward to playing my part, along with my ministerial team, to make Northern Ireland a better place to live, to work and to invest, and to strengthen its place within the United Kingdom.” Ms O’Neill said she told Mr Vara during their conversation that he has a “responsibility to work constructively and even-handedly to restore powersharing”. “The British government needs to accept its responsibilities and start working with all the Assembly parties, and the Irish Government to restore the Good Friday Agreement institutions, and stop placating the DUP who are in a needless stand-off which is unjustly punishing the public.” On Thursday evening, Ireland’s minister for foreign affairs Simon Coveney had “a warm and friendly phone call” with Mr Vara, according to a statement. Earlier Mr Vara said it was a “huge privilege to return to the Northern Ireland Office as Secretary of State”.