The East Belfast representative was speaking following the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer as Leader of the Labour Party this morning (22 June).

Mrs Long has said: “After a life of public service, in law and in politics, I want to wish Keir Starmer and his family well for the future. Today will be an emotional and difficult day for them.

“Sadly, having lost the confidence of both his party and the general public, his resignation has seemed inevitable for some time now. Unfortunately, that has distracted focus from where it ought to be: helping people navigate the cost of living crisis, fixing problems left by years of Tory misrule, and enacting vital political and financial reforms to ensure the Assembly and Executive can deliver better.

“This government came to power promising change after over a decade of Conservative scandal, sleaze and instability. Instead, they have delivered more of the same, and the hope people had when they voted has all but been eroded.

“Whoever the Labour Party chooses must restore that hope and deliver better. Their government will need to prioritise the needs of ordinary people, the very people who were promised so much when Labour came to power.

“Recent election results in GB show that many people are feeling discontented, and angry that politics has not been delivering for them, their families and communities. We hear that from people here, too, and that's why Alliance recently published proposals for reform, both here at the Assembly and at Westminster. We now need to see that democratic renewal delivered to stabilise government both at Stormont and Westminster, and focus on delivery, not drama.

“Since Brexit we have seen unprecedented instability in Westminster and across the country, with division rife and no stable leadership to offer people the hope of something better.

"Alliance will continue to offer that hope, reject the politics of fear, and do the work to improve the political system and the lives of people here in Northern Ireland.”