Andy Burnham has said he wants to help “move things forward” with regard to solving Stormont’s budget crisis.

However, the Prime Minister dampened down hopes of any immediate cash injection for public services when he said he was in “listening mode” during his first visit to Northern Ireland since entering Downing Street.

Mr Burnham will meet later with First Minister Michelle O’Neill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Stormont political parties to discuss financial pressures in the region.

Devolved ministers have failed to agree a budget for the current financial year, with departments operating on contingency budgets since April.

Ministers have consistently made the point that they need more funding from the Treasury to address a funding crisis facing public services in Northern Ireland.

Asked about the budget impasse during a visit to the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast, the Prime Minister said: “I am five weeks in office and I am here in Northern Ireland because I want to work with the new Northern Ireland Secretary to see if we can move things forward, listen to what people have to say.

“I realise how pressing it is, I realise the concern people have, but we are here because we want to listen.

“We want to have an honest exchange, I think there are things we would say, if we can work together, have a look at where possible savings could be made or where things could be done differently, that’s right and proper that I ask for those assurances given that we have got to make sure it is fair across the whole of the UK when it comes to a budget.”

He added: “I am saying I am here to have that honest conversation, and I am somebody who comes with an open mind.

“My emphasis is on problem solving in this job. I love this part of the world, I am a regular visitor.

“I want to see people here with a budget, with public services set up to succeed.

“That is what I want to try and achieve working with the Northern Ireland Secretary but first and foremost we have to sit around that table and hear where all the parties are.

“I will be taking that back to London later today.”

Mr Burnham was also asked about comments from him where he referenced “political point-scoring” restricting opportunities in Northern Ireland.

He said he believes Sinn Féin’s Ms O’Neill and the DUP’s Ms Little-Pengelly, who lead the Stormont powersharing Executive are a “model” for other politicians.

He said: “It wasn’t so much a criticism I was making of politicians here. If you look at how the First Minister, the deputy First Minister work, I think it is to their great credit that they work in the way that they do.

“In some ways I would say they are something of a model for politicians elsewhere in the UK, where you often don’t see politicians prepared to put differences aside.  Here people have the greatest differences but still are able to work like that.

“I do feel politics more broadly needs to move to a different way of working where we put the place first, rather than the party first.

“We put people first and that is something I want to see in politics right across the UK.”

Earlier, the Prime Minister had announced plans to bring together the leaders of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the autumn for a summit to help boost the UK economy.

Speaking ahead of his meeting with the Prime Minister DUP leader Gavin Robinson said he wanted to discuss Northern Ireland playing a “full and integral” part within United Kingdom politics.

He said: “Clearly, there are issues around budget resettlement in Northern Ireland.

“People at home are familiar with those and the challenges that creates in public service, so that will form a key part, not only of our discussion about what we can do collectively and politically in Northern Ireland to reach agreement around a budget, but what assistance is required from our UK national parliament and from this Prime Minister to support us in that endeavour.

“There is a need for politicians in Northern Ireland to get real with some of the issues that face our people, our public services, and those on the front lines, and confidence is key in devolution and in politics in Northern Ireland. “

Speaking ahead of Mr Burnham’s visit, Ms O’Neill said the “big focus” would be around the budget.

She said: “We need Andy Burnham to actually deliver in terms of getting a fair budget settlement that actually works for public services.

“We’ve got our nurses talking about going out and strike, and they shouldn’t have to go on strike, but the reality is that we are so underfunded, have been for years.

“If Andy Burnham wants to make a difference, then he can make a difference by actually changing the funding arrangement.

“What we have currently does not cut it, does not work.

“It’s not enough investment for our people who pay their taxes, they make sure they turn up every day.

“Public servants will turn up for them. Andy Burnham can take a different approach. I’ll test that with him.”

On his way to the Oh Yeah Music Centre, the Prime Minister walked down Commercial Court and met some patrons of the Duke of York bar before being greeted by publican Willie Jack.

At the centre, he viewed a display of music history, showing a particular interest in information about Undertones star Feargal Sharkey.

He went on to meet a number of young people and even tried his hand at mixing for Co Down band The Florentinas, congratulating them on recently securing a record deal.

Mr Burnham declined an offer to play a guitar, referencing being recently caught on camera during a visit to Ukraine playing a song by The Smiths and adding that he did not think the performance had gone well.