Campaign for Equal Citizenship
Encyclopedia
The Campaign for Equal Citizenship was a political advocacy group that supported the integration of Northern Ireland
into the United Kingdom
and called for the full participation of mainland political parties in Northern Irish politics.
The group was set up on 14 May 1986, following a meeting in Belfast
and was initially chaired by Clifford Smyth
and then by Robert McCartney
, at the time a member of the Ulster Unionist Party
. Many of the CEC's members were also involved
in the British and Irish Communist Organisation
and its front group, the Ingram
Society. It was born from opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
with the Campaign fearing that the devolution
proposals contained in the AIA would be the first step towards a united Ireland
. The group claimed to have cross-community support, although for the most part it was supported by unionists due to its emphasis on links to Britain. It did gain some support amongst the 'Catholic Unionist
' bloc and Roman Catholic supporters of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
however.
Ultimately the Labour Party
refused their request to organise in Northern Ireland. The same was true of the Conservative Party
, although demands by members led to the establishment of a Northern Irish party
in 1989. As of 2009 the Conservatives and Ulster Unionists have agreed an electoral pact. There are also loose associations between the Alliance Party
and the Liberal Democrats
, and the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP) and the UK Labour Party.
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...
into the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and called for the full participation of mainland political parties in Northern Irish politics.
The group was set up on 14 May 1986, following a meeting in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and was initially chaired by Clifford Smyth
Clifford Smyth
For the rapper, see Method Man.Clifford Smyth is a historian and former politician in Northern Ireland.Smyth stood for the Democratic Unionist Party in North Antrim in the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973, narrowly missing out on a seat. Following the death of David McCarthy, an Ulster...
and then by Robert McCartney
Robert McCartney (politician)
Robert Law McCartney QC is a Northern Ireland barrister and former leader of the UK Unionist Party.He was initially a member of the Ulster Unionist Party but was expelled in June 1987 when he refused to withdraw from the general election of that year...
, at the time a member of 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...
. Many of the CEC's members were also involved
in the British and Irish Communist Organisation
British and Irish Communist Organisation
The British and Irish Communist Organisation was a small but highly influential group based in London, Belfast, Cork, and Dublin. Its leader was Brendan Clifford. The group produced a great number of pamphlets, and many regular publications including, The Irish Communist and Workers Weekly in...
and its front group, the Ingram
Society. It was born from opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Anglo-Irish Agreement
The Anglo-Irish Agreement was an agreement between the United Kingdom and Ireland which aimed to help bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland...
with the Campaign fearing that the devolution
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
proposals contained in the AIA would be the first step towards a united Ireland
United Ireland
A united Ireland is the term used to refer to the idea of a sovereign state which covers all of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland. The island of Ireland includes the territory of two independent sovereign states: the Republic of Ireland, which covers 26 counties of the island, and the...
. The group claimed to have cross-community support, although for the most part it was supported by unionists due to its emphasis on links to Britain. It did gain some support amongst the 'Catholic Unionist
Catholic Unionist
A Catholic Irish Unionist is either a Roman Catholic in Northern Ireland who supports continuing ties between Northern Ireland and Great Britain...
' bloc and Roman Catholic supporters of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
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....
however.
Ultimately the Labour Party
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...
refused their request to organise in Northern Ireland. The same was true of the Conservative Party
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...
, although demands by members led to the establishment of a Northern Irish party
Conservatives in Northern Ireland
The Conservatives Northern Ireland is the section of the Conservative and Unionist Party of the United Kingdom that operates in Northern Ireland...
in 1989. As of 2009 the Conservatives and Ulster Unionists have agreed an electoral pact. There are also loose associations between the 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....
and 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...
, and 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) and the UK Labour Party.