Ivan Neill
Encyclopedia
Sir Ivan Neill was an Army officer and Unionist politician
in Northern Ireland
.
, Ireland
, Neill studied at Ravenscroft National School and Shaftesbury Tutorial College before receiving a BSc in Economics
from Queen's University, Belfast. He ran a firm of building contractors in East Belfast before joining the Royal Engineers
as an officer
in 1939. He served with the military until 1946, by which time he held the rank of major
.
as an Ulster Unionist Party
member, and two years later, he became an alderman
, serving until 1950. At the Northern Ireland general election, 1949
, he was elected for Belfast Ballynafeigh
. In January 1950, he was made Minister of Labour
, and was appointed to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
. In this post, he sometimes spoke against his Government's policy - for example, against the 1956 Rent Bill which permitted landlords to increase rents in order to improve properties, while in 1958 he was rebuked for making a critical speech on economic policy.
He held the post until 1962, when he became Minister of Education
, then in 1964 he moved to become Minister of Finance
and Leader of the House of Commons. He was stripped of the Leadership of the House the following spring, and resigned from the Government in April, feeling that he was being marginalised in favour of William Craig.
In 1964, Neill again took a seat as an alderman on Belfast Corporation, this time serving for six years. In December 1968, he returned to the Government as Minister of Development
, then in March 1969, he was elected as the Speaker of the House of Commons.
The Official Irish Republican Army attempted to kidnap Neill from his house near Rostrevor
, in October 1971. They were unsuccessful, but in December, his house was burnt down in an arson
attack.
The Parliament was prorogued in 1972. In March 1973, the British Government published its plans to replace the Parliament with the Northern Ireland Assembly
. Neill resigned as a Member of Parliament and as Speaker. He was not replaced, and was therefore the last Speaker of the Parliament of Northern Ireland. He received a knighthood and withdrew from politics.
In 1995, Neill wrote an autobiography, Church and State. In this, he called on unionists to put aside their differences.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in 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...
.
Early life
Born in BelfastBelfast
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...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Neill studied at Ravenscroft National School and Shaftesbury Tutorial College before receiving a BSc in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from Queen's University, Belfast. He ran a firm of building contractors in East Belfast before joining the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
as an officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in 1939. He served with the military until 1946, by which time he held the rank of major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
.
Political activity
In 1946, Neill was elected to Belfast CorporationBelfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
as an 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...
member, and two years later, he became an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
, serving until 1950. At the Northern Ireland general election, 1949
Northern Ireland general election, 1949
-References:*-See also:*MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1949...
, he was elected for Belfast Ballynafeigh
Belfast Ballynafeigh (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Ballynafeigh was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Ballynafeigh was a borough constituency comprising part of southern Belfast...
. In January 1950, he was made Minister of Labour
Minister of Labour (Northern Ireland)
The Minister of Labour for Northern Ireland was a member of the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland in the Parliament of Northern Ireland which governed Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972...
, and was appointed to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
Privy Council of Northern Ireland
The Privy Council of Northern Ireland was a formal body of advisors to the sovereign and was a vehicle for the monarch's prerogative powers in Northern Ireland. It was modelled on the Privy Council of the United Kingdom....
. In this post, he sometimes spoke against his Government's policy - for example, against the 1956 Rent Bill which permitted landlords to increase rents in order to improve properties, while in 1958 he was rebuked for making a critical speech on economic policy.
He held the post until 1962, when he became Minister of Education
Minister of Education (Northern Ireland)
The Minister of Education was a member of the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland in the Parliament of Northern Ireland which governed Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972.-References:*...
, then in 1964 he moved to become Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance (Northern Ireland)
The Minister of Finance was a member of the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland in the Parliament of Northern Ireland which governed Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972...
and Leader of the House of Commons. He was stripped of the Leadership of the House the following spring, and resigned from the Government in April, feeling that he was being marginalised in favour of William Craig.
In 1964, Neill again took a seat as an alderman on Belfast Corporation, this time serving for six years. In December 1968, he returned to the Government as Minister of Development
Minister of Development (Northern Ireland)
Minister of Development was a Cabinet ministry in the Parliament of Northern Ireland which governed Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972. The position was established in 1965 to mirror the United Kingdom Department of the Environment.-References:*...
, then in March 1969, he was elected as the Speaker of the House of Commons.
The Official Irish Republican Army attempted to kidnap Neill from his house near Rostrevor
Rostrevor
Rostrevor is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is within the Newry and Mourne District Council area. It lies at the foot of Slieve Martin on the coast of Carlingford Lough. The Kilbroney River flows through the village....
, in October 1971. They were unsuccessful, but in December, his house was burnt down in an arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
attack.
The Parliament was prorogued in 1972. In March 1973, the British Government published its plans to replace the Parliament with the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly (1973)
The Northern Ireland Assembly was a legislative assembly set up by the Government of the United Kingdom on 3 May 1973 to restore devolved government to Northern Ireland with the power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive made up of unionists and nationalists....
. Neill resigned as a Member of Parliament and as Speaker. He was not replaced, and was therefore the last Speaker of the Parliament of Northern Ireland. He received a knighthood and withdrew from politics.
In 1995, Neill wrote an autobiography, Church and State. In this, he called on unionists to put aside their differences.