Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Encyclopedia
The Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is a member of the UK Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
and his department, the Northern Ireland Office
. The post is currently held by Shaun Woodward
. The holder is assisted by shadow ministers in the Commons and in the Lords.
Until recently there has been a 'bi-partisan' attitude to Northern Ireland
affairs in the House of Commons
but the role is influenced by the relationship between the main Official Opposition
and parties in the province. Conservatives
, for example, generally support the unionist cause and in 2008 reformalised a link with the Ulster Unionist Party
, while Labour
has traditionally supported Irish nationalism
and is loosely allied to the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP). The Liberal Democrats
are linked with the cross-community Alliance Party
.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
and his department, the Northern Ireland Office
Northern Ireland Office
The Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
. The post is currently held by Shaun Woodward
Shaun Woodward
Shaun Anthony Woodward is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for St Helens South since 2001. He served in the Cabinet from 28 June 2007 to 11 May 2010 as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland...
. The holder is assisted by shadow ministers in the Commons and in the Lords.
Until recently there has been a 'bi-partisan' attitude to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
affairs in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
but the role is influenced by the relationship between the main Official Opposition
Official Opposition (UK)
Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition, or the Official Opposition, in the United Kingdom is led by the Leader of the Opposition. This is usually the political party with the second-largest number of seats in the House of Commons, as the largest party will usually form Her Majesty's Government...
and parties in the province. Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, for example, generally support the unionist cause and in 2008 reformalised a link with the Ulster Unionist Party
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...
, while Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
has traditionally supported Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
and is loosely allied to the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
(SDLP). The Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
are linked with the cross-community Alliance Party
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons....
.
Shadow Secretaries of State
| Name | Entered office | Left office | Political party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merlyn Rees | 24 March 1972 | 4 March 1974 | Labour | ||
| Francis Pym Francis Pym -Bibliography:****- External links :... |
4 March 1974 | 1974 | Conservative | ||
| Airey Neave Airey Neave Airey Middleton Sheffield Neave DSO, OBE, MC was a British soldier, barrister and politician.During World War II, Neave was one of the few servicemen to escape from the German prisoner-of-war camp Oflag IV-C at Colditz Castle... |
1974 | 18 February 1975 | Conservative | ||
| Airey Neave Airey Neave Airey Middleton Sheffield Neave DSO, OBE, MC was a British soldier, barrister and politician.During World War II, Neave was one of the few servicemen to escape from the German prisoner-of-war camp Oflag IV-C at Colditz Castle... |
18 February 1975 | 30 March 1979 | Conservative | ||
| Alec Jones Alec Jones Alec Jones was a British Labour Party politician.Jones was Member of Parliament for Rhondda West from the Rhondda West by-election, 1967 until the constituency was abolished in 1974, and for Rhondda from 1974 until he died in office shortly before the 1983 general election at the age of 58... |
14 July 1979 | 8 December 1980 | Labour | ||
| Don Concannon Don Concannon John Dennis Concannon, known as Don Concannon, , was a British Labour Party politician.Born in Doncaster, Concannon was educated at Rossington secondary school and through the extramural department of the University of Nottingham... |
8 December 1980 | 31 October 1983 | Labour | ||
| Peter Archer Peter Archer, Baron Archer of Sandwell Peter Kingsley Archer, Baron Archer of Sandwell, PC , is a Labour Party member of the House of Lords.He was previously the Member of Parliament for Rowley Regis and Tipton and for Warley West, having first been elected in the 1966 general election until his leaving the House of Commons at the 1992... |
31 October 1983 | 13 July 1987 | Labour | ||
| Kevin McNamara Kevin McNamara (politician) Dr. Joseph Kevin McNamara, KSG is a British Labour Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament for almost 40 years.-Early life:... |
13 July 1987 | 20 October 1994 | Labour | ||
| Mo Mowlam Mo Mowlam Marjorie "Mo" Mowlam was a British Labour Party politician. She was the Member of Parliament for Redcar from 1987 to 2001 and served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.Mowlam's time as Northern... |
20 October 1994 | 2 May 1997 | Labour | ||
| Andrew Mackay | 23 June 1997 | 14 September 2001 | Conservative | ||
| Quentin Davies Quentin Davies John Quentin Davies, Baron Davies of Stamford is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Grantham and Stamford from 1987 to 2010. Originally elected as a Conservative, he defected to Labour on 26 June 2007. Davies announced in 2010 that he would not stand for... |
14 September 2001 | 11 November 2003 | Conservative | ||
| David Lidington David Lidington David Roy Lidington PC is a British Conservative Party politician, who has been Member of Parliament for Aylesbury since 1992... |
 |
11 November 2003 | 2 July 2007 | Conservative | |
| Owen Paterson Owen Paterson Owen William Paterson is a British Conservative Party politician and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. He is the Member of Parliament for North Shropshire.-Early life and career:Paterson was born in Whitchurch, Shropshire... |
2 July 2007 | 11 May 2010 | Conservative | ||
| Shaun Woodward Shaun Woodward Shaun Anthony Woodward is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for St Helens South since 2001. He served in the Cabinet from 28 June 2007 to 11 May 2010 as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland... |
11 May 2010 | 7 October 2011 | Labour | ||
| Vernon Coaker Vernon Coaker Vernon Rodney Coaker is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Gedling since 1997; Coaker was appointed Minister of State for Schools and Learners in June 2009, a post he held until Gordon Brown resigned as Prime Minister on 11 May 2010... |
7 October 2011 | Incumbent | Labour |
See also
- Secretary of State for Northern IrelandSecretary of State for Northern IrelandThe Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
- Northern Ireland OfficeNorthern Ireland OfficeThe Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
- UK Shadow CabinetOfficial Opposition Shadow Cabinet (UK)The Official Loyal Opposition Shadow Cabinet are, in British parliamentary practice, senior members of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition who scrutinise their corresponding office holders in the Government, develop alternative policies, and hold the Government to account for its actions and responses...
- Liberal Democrat Frontbench TeamLiberal Democrat Frontbench TeamThe Liberal Democrats are the third-largest political party in the United Kingdom. While in opposition, the Liberal Democrat leader appointed a team of Members of Parliament and Peers to speak for the party on different issues. Their areas of responsibility broadly corresponded to those of...
- Northern Ireland Affairs CommitteeNorthern Ireland Affairs CommitteeThe Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
- Northern Ireland Grand CommitteeNorthern Ireland Grand CommitteeThe Northern Ireland Grand Committee is one of three such grand committees in the United Kingdom Parliament. The other two are for Scotland and Wales...