Northern Ireland secretary on flight as Starmer says Boris Johnson ‘absent’ – follow live

Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis is flying to Belfast for talks with political leaders to discuss the violence that has gripped parts of the region over the past week.

He will meet with first minister Arlene Foster, from the DUP, and deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill, from Sinn Fein, on Thursday afternoon, PA reports.

Earlier today, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer called on Boris Johnson to hold cross-party talks aimed at bringing the disorder to an end. He accused the prime minister of being "absent" during several consecutive nights of disorder that has left 55 police officers injured.