The Sunningdale Agreement

Question 1

What was the Sunningdale agreement?

Answer 1

-1973 negotiated by Heath + whitelaw
-complex plan for power sharing gov with support of SDLP + alliance + leadership of UUP

Question 2

What did the agreement propose?

Answer 2

-power sharing executive of nationalists + unionists - both sides guaranteed representation
-new NI assembly elected under system of proportional representation
-council of Ireland have some input from Republic of Ireland

Question 3

What was the reaction?

Answer 3

-extremists (republicans + loyalists) denounced it as a sell out
-UVF + UDA opposed it + UUP voted to pull out Jan 1974
-Faulkner replaced as leader UUP by Harry West - opposed it

Question 4

What was the reaction in Br?

Answer 4

-prospects of settlement undermined by problems in Br - miners strike + gen elec
-concern over it meant cons couldn’t rely on UUP support preventing cons from continuing in gov

Question 5

What happened in march 1971?

Answer 5

-3 Br soldiers killed - PIRA thought responsible
-4000 shipyard workers march to demand internment for IRA leaders

Question 6

What happened December 1971?

Answer 6

-McGark’s bar 15 killed by UVF bomb

Question 7

What happened Jan + feb 1973?

Answer 7

-Bloody Sunday - 13 killed by British army
-Aldershot Barracks in England - 7 killed by IRA bomb