The Border Poll and the White Paper

The Border Poll (1973)

• The Border Poll was a referendum held in Northern Ireland on 8 March 1973, during a particularly tumultuous period of the Troubles.
• The poll was organised by the British government to determine whether Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom or join the Republic of Ireland.
• This referendum was the first and only one of its kind in Northern Ireland until 1998, making it a significant event in the region's history.
• The context for the Border Poll lies in the growing violence and political unrest in Northern Ireland during the early 1970s.
• The Troubles had escalated rapidly following events like Bloody Sunday in 1972 and the introduction of Direct Rule from London. The British government, under Prime Minister Edward Heath, was searching for ways to stabilise the situation and find a political solution.
  • The Border Poll was one of several initiatives aimed at addressing the fundamental issue of Northern Ireland's constitutional status, which was at the heart of the conflict.
  • In the lead-up to the poll, the unionist community, which was predominantly Protestant, strongly supported Northern Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom.
  • Unionists viewed any suggestion of joining the Republic of Ireland as a threat to their identity and way of life. On the other hand, the nationalist community, primarily Catholic, aspired to a united Ireland.

• However, most nationalist parties, including the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), chose to boycott the poll, arguing that the conditions were not right for a fair vote and that the result would be meaningless without the participation of the entire community.

Results & Consequences

• The course of the Border Poll saw a high turnout among the unionist population, who overwhelmingly voted in favour of remaining in the United Kingdom.
• Approximately 98.9% of those who participated in the referendum voted to stay part of the UK. However, the boycott by nationalist parties and many Catholic voters meant that the result was heavily skewed, with only about 58% of the electorate participating.
• The low participation from the nationalist community highlighted the deep divisions in Northern Irish society and the lack of a consensus on the region's future.
• The consequences of the Border Poll were complex. While the result confirmed Northern Ireland's status within the United Kingdom, it did little to resolve the underlying tensions that had led to the Troubles.
• The overwhelming unionist victory was largely seen as a foregone conclusion, given the boycott by nationalists. The poll did not bring about any significant change in the political landscape, and violence continued unabated.
• For the British government, the Border Poll was an attempt to address the constitutional question and reaffirm Northern Ireland's place within the UK.
• However, the failure to engage the nationalist community in a meaningful way meant that the poll had limited impact on the broader conflict. The issues that had sparked the Troubles—such as discrimination, sectarianism, and the question of national identity—remained unresolved.

The 'White Paper' (1973)

• The Northern Ireland White Paper, published by the British government on 20 March 1973, was a key document outlining proposals for the future governance of Northern Ireland in the wake of the ongoing violence and political instability.
  • The White Paper was titled "Northern Ireland Constitutional Proposals" and represented an attempt by the British government to find a new political framework that could help bring peace and stability to the region.
  • The context of the White Paper was the deteriorating situation in Northern Ireland following the introduction of Direct Rule in 1972 and the ongoing violence that had claimed thousands of lives.
  • The British government, led by Prime Minister Edward Heath, recognised that a new political arrangement was needed to address the deep divisions between the unionist and nationalist communities.

• The aim was to create a more inclusive and representative government in Northern Ireland, one that could command broad support across the political spectrum.
• The White Paper proposed the creation of a new Northern Ireland Assembly, which would be elected by proportional representation to ensure fairer representation of both unionists and nationalists.
• This was a significant departure from the previous system at Stormont, which had been dominated by unionists and had excluded many nationalist voices.
• The assembly would have devolved powers over a range of issues, including education, health, and local government, but key areas such as security and foreign policy would remain under the control of the British government.
• In addition to the assembly, the White Paper proposed the establishment of a power-sharing executive, which would include representatives from both the unionist and nationalist communities.
• This was a radical idea at the time, as it required unionists and nationalists to work together in government, something that had not been tried before in Northern Ireland.
• The power-sharing executive was intended to ensure that both communities had a say in the governance of the region, thereby reducing tensions and fostering cooperation.
• Another important aspect of the White Paper was the proposal for a Council of Ireland, which would facilitate cooperation between the Northern Ireland government and the government of the Republic of Ireland.
• This was aimed at addressing nationalist aspirations for closer ties with the South while still maintaining Northern Ireland's position within the United Kingdom.

Consequences

• The consequences of the White Paper were significant. The proposals laid the groundwork for the Sunningdale Agreement, which was signed later in 1973 and led to the establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the power-sharing executive.
• However, the Sunningdale Agreement faced fierce opposition from hardline unionists and loyalists, who viewed it as a betrayal of their interests.
• The Ulster Workers' Council Strike in May 1974, which brought Northern Ireland to a standstill, ultimately led to the collapse of the power-sharing executive and the failure of the Sunningdale Agreement.
• Despite its failure, the White Paper was an important milestone in the search for peace in Northern Ireland. It introduced the concept of power-sharing and laid the foundations for future peace negotiations, including the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
• The White Paper represented an early attempt by the British government to find a political solution to the Troubles, recognising that only by bringing unionists and nationalists together in government could lasting peace be achieved.