Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has vowed to confront the Prime Minister over “prioritising weapons of war while people are struggling to pay for food and energy”.

The Stormont leader said last week’s Budget had been a missed opportunity, describing the decision to increase defence spending as the latest move in London to lead more people to think seriously about constitutional change.

Ms O’Neill said she intends to put that to Sir Keir Starmer “very strongly” and “rehearse the anger” felt at the “blunt reality” of “what they call defence spending, it’s weapons of war over cost of living”.

Sir Keir is expected to attend a meeting of the British Irish Council (BIC) in Cardiff on Friday, along with the leaders of the devolved regions.

Ms O’Neill said she also intends t

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