Labour 'right' not to fund Casement Park for Euros

The previous Conservative government promised to help fund construction of the west Belfast stadium in time for the football tournament

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

Alex Burghart, a Conservative MP, said if he had been in Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn’s position he would have made the same decision.

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

As prime minister, Rishi Sunak said the government would make a “significant contribution” and leave a lasting Euros legacy in Northern Ireland.

But he lost the general election in July and the Labour government last month confirmed it could not afford to fund the stadium now due to the risk it would not be ready in time for Euro 2028.

The UK government now estimates the potential cost will be more than £400m.

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

“Chris Heaton-Harris, the former secretary of state, was clear that we couldn't move forward until we had agreed upon other things,” he added.

“I actually support the decision that Hilary Benn made.”

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

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

However, pressed on her refusal to rule out leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, Burghart said the priority was “securing our borders”.

Asked whether it would run roughshod over the principles of the Good Friday Agreement, Burghart said it would be important to “go through things in detail”.