Northern Ireland: Power Sharing Flashcards
What did the British Government replace Stormont with?
Assembly and Executive
What were the number of new elements of the new system that replaced Stormont
Members of assembly would be elected using proportional representation
Executive members would come from both unionist and nationalists political parties
Irish Dimension in form of council of Ireland that allowed both politicians from NI and South to meet and discuss issues relevant to both parts of the island
Pro-power Sharing Unionist reaction to power sharing?
Former NI PM Brian Faulkner supported the idea and so did some of his supporters
Anti-Power Sharing Unionists reaction to power sharing
Much of Faulkner’s party opposed his support of power sharing
DUP opposed
William Craig’s Vanguard Unionist Party opposed
Unionists came together and formed UUUC
Why did the prospect of a new power sharing government split unionism in NI
Anti-power sharing unionists feared Northern Ireland’s opposition, while pro-power sharing unionists believed it was the best solution to end violence and London Direct Rule, while Unionism viewed Dublin’s influence as unpalatable.
power sharing assembly election results June 1973
Faulkner Unionists - Pro - 29.3%
UUUC Unionists - Anti - 32.1%
SDLP - Pro - 22.1%
APNI - Pro - 9.2%
NILP - Pro - 2.6%
What did the power sharing assembly election in June 1973 results show
Parties in favour of power sharing won the most seats
number of unionists elected who were against power sharing was greater than the number of pro-power sharing unionists elected
When was the New Executive make up announced?
Late November 1973
What did the New Executive contain in terms of people and roles
Chief Executive was Brian Faulkner
Deputy Chief Executive SDLP leader Gerry Fin
Who wasn’t invited to The Sunningdale Agreement
Ian Paisley and William Craig
Later invited but both refused
Where was the Sunningdale Agreement
Sunningdale England
When was Sunningdale Agreement Signed
9th December 1973
What did the Sunningdale Agreement set out
Creation of a two part council of Ireland:
Council of Ministers with 14 members (seven from power sharing executive , seven from Irish Government.) Council would help development of North-South co-operation and would eventually be given decision-making powers
60 Member consultative assembly, to have advisory and review functions only
BG agreed not to oppose Irish unification if a majority of the people of NI wanted it.
Irish Government accepted that Irish unity could only ever be achieved peacefully
Also at some future date control over internal security issues would be returned to the Stormont Assembly.
Approval of the decisions made at Sunningdale was to take place at a future conference.
Future problems caused by Sunningdale agreement from Politicians
Faulkner didn’t believe Sunningdale Agreement was very important or had changed very much. Later explained only agreed to sign it to get IG to accept NI was part of UK
SDLP believed agreement would be a major part in helping to create much closer ties between NI and Irish Republic.
Future Problems caused by Sunningdale agreement from Paramilitaries
Day after Sunningdale Agreement was signed Loyalists announced setting up Ulster Army Council. It would resist any significant Irish Dimension
PIRA showed disapproval by exploding a number of bombs in London just before Christmas
When did The Executive Take Power
1st January 1974
Why did the future of power sharing look bleak in 1974?
4th January ruling committee of UUP voted to reject Sunningdale Agreement. In response Faulkner resigned as leader of party; 19 of the 21 UUP Assembly members resigned with him
At end of February 1974 a General Election for Westminster Parliament was held. All but one of the seats in NI was won by UUUC MP’s who opposed power sharing
Reasons why Power Sharing might have worked
Protestants seemed to have compromised while Catholics had accepted constituational politics in NI
Violence declined considerably
A political solution seemed close
Reasons why Power Sharing might have failed
Large number of people had voted for anti-power sharing UUUC in the election
Neither Catholic or Protestant paramilitaries could be stopped
Irish Dimension enraged loyalists but wasn’t enough to appease extreme nationalists
Sunningdale was flawed, Faulkner saw the council of Ireland as an advisory body with no power, the SDLP thought it would bring much the north and south closer together through cross-border cooperation
Who was the UWC and what did they want?
Body made up of anti-power sharing Unionist politicians, trade unionists and paramilitaries. Wanted to bring power-sharing government down in NI
What actions did the UWC take to get what they wanted?
Called a general strike. Initially people seemed like they wouldn’t obey the strike but the UDA intimidated workers and stopped them going to work using roadblocks.
How did the BG react to the UWC strike and how did Harold Wilson misjudge the situation
PM Harold Wilson rapidly lost patience and showed anger in TV speech on 25th May when he called strikers spongers
Deeply offensive to the Unionists and support for strike increased. BG had to order army in to take control of fuel supplies
What was the ultimate outcome of the UWC strike
Faulkner resigned as Chief Executive of power sharing executive as did the rest of the unionists in the assembly. Power sharing had failed.
Direct rule from London reintroduced
When did the UWC strike begin
14th May 1974
