International Politics and the Northern Ireland Conflict by Alan MacLeod

Author:Alan MacLeod [MacLeod, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Nonfiction, History, Ireland, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
ISBN: 9781786720115
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2016-07-25T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

THE BRITISH GENERAL ELECTION

Although the basis of agreement had been reached at Sunningdale, considerable work remained to resolve the outstanding issues between the parties so that a ratification conference, or Sunningdale II, could be held. However, in the opening week of 1974, Brian Faulkner's position deteriorated rapidly. The question was how the Irish Government was going to respond to the setbacks suffered by Faulkner, as, following Sunningdale, the emphasis was increasingly on direct relations between Dublin and Belfast, with London's role becoming more marginal. Faulkner, himself, began to develop a package of measures on which the Irish Government would have to act before he would agree to the ratification of Sunningdale. In addition, the Irish Government also came under pressure from the SDLP, who began to urge greater action on security cooperation from Dublin. However, Dublin's response was to refuse to bend to such pressure and instead to push for the speedy ratification of Sunningdale. This increased British concern over Dublin's blindness to Faulkner's deteriorating position.

British concern increased significantly following the UK general election held on 28 February 1974. The results of the election in Northern Ireland dealt a considerable blow to the political process, as anti-Sunningdale unionists triumphed in the poll. Heath's Government fell and was replaced by Harold Wilson's Labour Party, which sought to govern without a majority in the House of Commons. The new British Government inherited a political situation in Northern Ireland that had been transformed by the same election that brought it to power. Although supposedly in favour of Irish unity, Wilson's Government was greatly concerned at the deteriorating position of Faulkner and determined to do what it could to support him. This would require concessions from Dublin.

Hillsborough

On 1 January 1974 Northern Ireland's new power-sharing executive took office. The new executive differed considerably from the Northern Ireland Government that had existed before the introduction of direct rule in March 1972. Gone was the post of Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and one-party domination of the Province's politics. Instead, Brian Faulkner, leader of a group of 20 Unionists in the Assembly, took up the post of Chief Executive. SDLP leader Gerry Fitt became Deputy Chief Executive, while Alliance Party leader Oliver Napier took on the role of Legal Member. The remaining posts were distributed between the Unionists and SDLP, with the executive comprising a total of six Unionists, four SDLP, and one member of the Alliance. In addition, the Administration included four non-voting members, two of whom were from the SDLP, one Unionist and one Alliance.1

However, Faulkner's position deteriorated almost immediately. First, opponents within Faulkner's Unionist Party called a meeting of the Party's central policy-making body, the Ulster Unionist Council (UUC) for 4 January 1974. The UUC debated a motion to reject the Council of Ireland as agreed at Sunningdale, which it then passed by a majority of 53 votes. Faulkner was forced to immediately consult with his Assembly party, of which 18 of its 20 members pledged continued support. Satisfied that he could remain

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