PETER Kyle says the resignation of Paul Givan as First Minister of Northern Ireland is “hard to take”.

Mr Givan’s resignation is part of the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol in Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.

It also means Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, of Sinn Féin, also loses her position. Sinn Féin has called for an early assembly election as a result.

Last year, MP for Hove and Portslade Peter Kyle was appointed the new shadow Northern Ireland secretary in a Labour cabinet reshuffle. 

He was promoted from his former role as shadow minister for schools.

In a statement, he said: “The resignation of the First Minister is hard to take, and I urge the DUP to retake their place in the Executive for the last few weeks of the current mandate.

“No one doubts that the Prime Minister’s protocol is causing challenges in Northern Ireland. But these can only be solved through further negotiation, not by walking away.

“The coming days and weeks will be crucial for Northern Ireland, whose communities and businesses deserve a peaceful and prosperous future.

“Residents are facing critical challenges with the cost of living and public services, which can only be solved by a functioning political system and all parties must do everything they can to make a reality.

“The UK government must also play its part, accept responsibility, and step up to resolving the issues with the Northern Ireland protocol which they were warned about.”

Peter Kyle has been a Member of Parliament since 2015.

A former charity sector executive, he previously served as a shadow justice minister from 2020 to 2021 and a shadow education minister in 2021.