Rishi Sunak tells DUP to restore power sharing or risk union in Northern Ireland

The Prime Minister used a speech to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement to praise political leaders for having courage" mightier than a thousand bombs and bullets" to achieve the historic peace agreement

Hillary Clinton, former US President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy following the international conference to mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, (

Image: PA)

Rishi Sunak has lobbied the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to make Northern Irish institutions operational or risk harming the union.

The prime minister used a speech to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement to praise political leaders for having courage 'mightier than a thousand bombs and bullets' in reaching the deal historic peace.

He said people on all sides “showed courage, imagination and perseverance” to broker the 1998 accord that ended decades of bloody conflict.

Addressing an audience in Belfast that included former US President Bill Clinton, Mr Sunak said: "Let us glorify moderation, idealize respect and make heroes of those who have the courage to reject the absolute."

He put pressure on the DUP which has been resisting a return to power-sharing since last year.

Mr. Sunak said the fact that the institutions of Stormont had failed to function for nine of the last 25 years "should be a source of deep concern".

Rishi Sunak hailed the courage of political leaders who resisted violence to find a path to peace in Northern Ireland (

Picture:

PA)

He said: "In the long run, this will not strengthen the cause of trade unionism - I believe in that deeply.

"So we have to make the institutions work and keep them working."

He added: "History reminds us that nothing in Northern Ireland was ever achieved by trying to circumvent one community or another.

“Thus, any conversation about reform can only begin once the institutions are operational again.”

Mr. Clinton, who was heavily involved in the Good Friday Agreement, also said it was time to "get this show on the road." restoring power sharing.

He said the roadblock