Veteran Labour MP Hilary Benn is expected to be appointed Northern Ireland secretary of state when the new UK government is formed.
There is mounting speculation that the 70-year-old, who most recently served as Labour shadow secretary, will be asked by Sir Keir Starmer to take up the role.
Mr Benn, a MP since 1999, secured a 54% share of the vote to comfortably secure his seat in the Leeds South constituency once again on Friday.
The landslide victory by the Labour party will soon see its leader Sir Keir move to appoint his cabinet ministers. It is expected that the new prime minister will name his cabinet later today with it likely Mr Benn will become secretary of state for Northern Ireland.
The son of prominent left-wing Labour politician Tony Benn, he is regarded as a powerful opponent of Brexit and had been in favour of a second referendum.
Mr Benn was previously shadow leader of the house and shadow environment secretary under Ed Miliband.
He was appointed as Labour shadow secretary last September after previously serving as shadow foreign secretary under former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
He was also secretary of state for International Development from 2003-2007 under Tony Blair and was Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary from 2015-2016.
However, he lost the role following a failed coup against then-leader Corbyn in 2016.
His appointment as shadow Northern Ireland secretary was welcomed at the time by the SDLP and UUP.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said it was “strong signal” from the Labour leader, while UUP leader Doug Beattie said the “appointment of an individual with such an extensive political career is an indication of the importance the Labour Party leader places on Northern Ireland”.
