The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Bryant, used a 4 September 2026 speech to the British-Irish Association Conference in Oxford to call for institutional reform at Stormont and a multi-year budget with a plan for fiscal sustainability. He said most Stormont parties agree in theory that reform is needed, and that he wanted to raise it urgently with all parties. He framed reform as a means to better public services and economic growth rather than an end in itself.

Bryant praised the Good Friday Agreement and said the approach to its 30th anniversary should fulfil its promise to victims and survivors, requiring equal participation by both governments. He said he wanted to spend at least 60% of his time and energy on the future, citing Northern Ireland's economic growth, US investment, food production, exports to over 70 countries and dual market access. He also backed easier goods movement from Great Britain and a sanitary and phytosanitary deal with the European Union.