Brian McConnell, Baron McConnell
Encyclopedia
Robert William Brian McConnell, Baron McConnell (25 November 1922 - 25 October 2000) was an Ulster Unionist
MP
in the Northern Ireland House of Commons.
The grandson of Sir Robert McConnell, 1st Baronet, he was schooled at Sedbergh School
and at Queen's University, Belfast where he read law, subsequently being called to the Bar of Northern Ireland
.
Starting off as a Junior Unionist, Brian McConnell attended the Conservative Conference in Brighton as an Ulster Unionist delegate in 1947, at which he made a warmly received address on one of the resolutions before the conference of over 3,500. He was first elected to Stormont
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1953
. In 1962 Lord Brookeborough
appointed him Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance (Government Chief Whip), and after holding a junior office at the relatively new Ministry of Health, he became Minister of Home Affairs in 1964 in the government of Terence O'Neill
.
In 1966 however Ian Paisley
led a protest to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
for the installation of a new Moderator. At the protest the Governor of Northern Ireland
, Lord Erskine
was jostled on his way into the building, an incident which was attributed to the future ill health and ultimately the death of Lady Erskine. This was largely blamed on McConnell (who was in London
at the time), and his period in elected office was effectively over.
Always a close associate of James Molyneaux
, McConnell was raised to a life peerage as Baron McConnell, of Lisburn in the County of Antrim
on 15 February 1995, reportedly owing to the then Prime Minister
's reliance on Ulster Unionist votes to maintain his minority government. Molyneaux was criticized for the nomination of McConnell owing to his age when it was felt that a younger candidate could have been nominated.
An active member of the House of Lords
, McConnell died on 25 October 2000.
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the Northern Ireland House of Commons.
The grandson of Sir Robert McConnell, 1st Baronet, he was schooled at Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School is a boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria, for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. Nestled in the Howgill Fells, it is known for sporting sides, such as its Rugby Union 1st XV.-Background:...
and at Queen's University, Belfast where he read law, subsequently being called to the Bar of Northern Ireland
Bar of Northern Ireland
The Bar of Northern Ireland, or Northern Irish Bar, is the association of barristers for Northern Ireland, comprising as at September 2007 just under 600 members....
.
Starting off as a Junior Unionist, Brian McConnell attended the Conservative Conference in Brighton as an Ulster Unionist delegate in 1947, at which he made a warmly received address on one of the resolutions before the conference of over 3,500. He was first elected to Stormont
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1953
Northern Ireland general election, 1953
-References:*...
. In 1962 Lord Brookeborough
Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough
Basil Stanlake Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Bt, KG, CBE, MC, PC, HML was an Ulster Unionist politician who became the third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1943 and held office until 1963....
appointed him Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance (Government Chief Whip), and after holding a junior office at the relatively new Ministry of Health, he became Minister of Home Affairs in 1964 in the government of Terence O'Neill
Terence O'Neill
Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party...
.
In 1966 however Ian Paisley
Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
led a protest to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is the sovereign and highest court of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and is thus the Church's governing body. The General Assembly normally meets annually, during the first full week in June....
for the installation of a new Moderator. At the protest the Governor of Northern Ireland
Governor of Northern Ireland
The Governor of Northern Ireland was the principal officer and representative in Northern Ireland of the British monarch. The office was established on 9 December 1922 and abolished on 18 July 1973.-Overview:...
, Lord Erskine
John Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine of Rerrick
John Maxwell Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine of Rerrick, GBE, Kt, KStJ, DL, JP, FRSE was the son of John and Maryanne Erskine...
was jostled on his way into the building, an incident which was attributed to the future ill health and ultimately the death of Lady Erskine. This was largely blamed on McConnell (who was in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the time), and his period in elected office was effectively over.
Always a close associate of James Molyneaux
James Molyneaux
James Henry Molyneaux, Baron Molyneaux of Killead, KBE, PC is a Northern Irish Unionist politician and was leader of the Ulster Unionist Party from 1979 to 1995. He was a leading member and sometime Vice-President of the Conservative Monday Club...
, McConnell was raised to a life peerage as Baron McConnell, of Lisburn in the County of Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
on 15 February 1995, reportedly owing to the then Prime Minister
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
's reliance on Ulster Unionist votes to maintain his minority government. Molyneaux was criticized for the nomination of McConnell owing to his age when it was felt that a younger candidate could have been nominated.
An active member of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, McConnell died on 25 October 2000.