The New Assembly & Establishing a Power-Sharing Executive

Elections for the New Assembly

• In 1973, following the publication of the White Paper that proposed a new political framework for Northern Ireland, elections were held on 28 June to form a new Northern Ireland Assembly.

• This assembly was designed to bring together representatives from both the unionist and nationalist communities in a power-sharing government, which was a significant shift from the previous unionist-dominated government at Stormont.

• The election results revealed deep divisions within the unionist community. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), which had traditionally been the dominant party, split into pro-assembly and anti-assembly factions.

• The pro-assembly wing, led by Brian Faulkner, supported the White Paper's proposals and won 24 seats with 25.3% of the vote.

• Meanwhile, the anti-assembly faction, which opposed power-sharing with nationalists, secured 7 seats, receiving 10.5% of the vote.

• On the nationalist side, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) emerged as the strongest party, winning 19 seats with 22.1% of the vote.

• This was seen as a significant success for the SDLP, which was committed to the new political process and hoped to represent the Catholic community in the proposed power-sharing government.

  • However, the election also showed substantial support for more hardline positions. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), led by Ian Paisley, and the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party (Vanguard), both of which were staunchly opposed to power-sharing, won 8 and 10 seats respectively.

• Together with other anti-assembly unionists, these groups controlled a total of 25 seats, revealing strong resistance to the new political arrangements proposed by the British government.

• William Whitelaw, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, had hoped that the support from pro-assembly UUP members, the SDLP, and the centrist Alliance Party (which won 8 seats) would be enough to ensure the success of the assembly and the formation of a power-sharing executive.

• However, Whitelaw underestimated the depth of unionist opposition to power-sharing. While the SDLP's success was interpreted as evidence that Northern Irish Catholics were ready to engage in the political process, the boycott by Sinn Féin, the political wing of the IRA, suggested that a significant portion of the nationalist community remained outside the mainstream political process.

• The election took place before the details of power-sharing and the proposed Council of Ireland (which aimed to enhance cooperation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) were fully finalised.

• This uncertainty contributed to the challenges Faulkner faced in gaining widespread support for his pro-assembly stance.

• The election results set the stage for intense political negotiations and conflicts in the months that followed, as Northern Ireland struggled to move towards a new political reality.

Establishing a Power-Sharing Executive

• Throughout the summer of 1973, the newly elected members of the Northern Ireland Assembly engaged in heated discussions about how to form a government under the terms laid out by the White Paper.

• The aim was to establish a power-sharing executive that would include representatives from both unionist and nationalist communities.

• However, this process was fraught with difficulties, as many within the unionist community, particularly those aligned with the DUP and Vanguard, were vehemently opposed to any form of power-sharing with nationalists.

• Despite these challenges, by November 1973, a power-sharing executive had been agreed upon. The executive was composed of 11 members: 6 from the pro-assembly UUP, 4 from the SDLP, and 1 from the Alliance Party.

• Brian Faulkner was appointed as Chief Executive, with Gerry Fitt of the SDLP serving as Deputy Chief Executive. The agreement marked a historic moment, as it was the first time that nationalists had been included in the government of Northern Ireland.

• The executive also agreed to establish a Council of Ireland, which would include representatives from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The role of this council was a major point of contention.

  • The SDLP, led by John Hume, advocated for a strong council with real powers, including input on policing and security issues in Northern Ireland.
  • Hume envisioned the council as a way to address nationalist aspirations for greater ties with the South. Faulkner, although reluctant, eventually agreed to the council's formation, hoping that it would help secure nationalist support for the new government.

• On 21 November 1973, William Whitelaw announced that an agreement had been reached and presented the members of the new executive to the public.

• The announcement was a significant achievement, as it represented a commitment from both unionists and nationalists to work together in governing Northern Ireland.

Backlash

• However, this progress was immediately met with backlash from loyalist factions, who viewed the power-sharing arrangement and the Council of Ireland as a betrayal of unionist interests.
• Violent protests broke out, particularly from the DUP and Vanguard supporters, who were furious at the inclusion of nationalists in the government.
• They saw the Council of Ireland as a step towards a united Ireland, something they were determined to prevent at all costs.
• Meanwhile, republicans accused the SDLP of selling out by agreeing to work with the British government, and the IRA continued its campaign of violence against the state.
• The situation was further complicated when British Prime Minister Edward Heath unexpectedly replaced William Whitelaw as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with Francis Pym in November 1973.
• Whitelaw had been instrumental in negotiating the power-sharing agreement, and his removal led to uncertainty about the future of the new government.
• Despite these challenges, the power-sharing executive was officially established in January 1974, marking a significant, albeit temporary, step forward in the search for peace in Northern Ireland.

Collapse

• However, the new executive faced immediate challenges. The Ulster Workers' Council Strike in May 1974, a general strike organised by loyalist workers opposed to the power-sharing arrangements, brought Northern Ireland to a standstill and led to the collapse of the executive.

  

• The Sunningdale Agreement, which had underpinned the new political structures, fell apart, demonstrating the deep-seated resistance to compromise on both sides of the political divide.

• The collapse of the power-sharing executive highlighted the difficulties of achieving a lasting political solution in Northern Ireland, where deep-seated mistrust and opposition to change persisted.