The Government has denied that the newly formed East-West Council is a “talking shop” and pledged £150 million of new funding for Northern Ireland.

The council was established as a result of extensive negotiations between the DUP leadership and the UK Government, which led to the unionist party ending its two year boycott of Stormont’s powersharing institutions.

The party had chosen not to engage with devolved government at Stormont due to concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements between Northern Ireland and mainland UK.

The council’s first meeting at Dover House in London was attended by Levelling-up secretary Michael Gove, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

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