Leader of the Opposition (Northern Ireland)
Encyclopedia
The Leader of the Opposition
in Northern Ireland
was theoretically the leader of the largest party in the Northern Ireland House of Commons which was not the government. The position was eliminated in 1972 when the Stormont
parliament was abolished and replaced by direct rule
from London.
Compiling a list of Northern Irish Leaders of the Opposition is complicated by the fact that members of the Irish Nationalist opposition at Stormont often practiced a policy of abstentionism
where they would run for seats in the parliament but refuse to take them if elected in order not to give legitimacy to British rule or the partition of the island and refused to accept recognition as the Official Opposition until 1965 despite the fact that they were the second party in the House of Commons in terms of seats won from 1925 until 1972 and had been tied for second with Sinn Féin
(which was also abstentionist) in the first Northern Ireland House of Commons from 1921 to 1925.
Though the Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
was consistently the second largest party in the Northern Ireland House of Commons its members refused to take their seats in the legislature until 1924, then resumed the abstentionist policy in the 1930s to protest the abolition of proportional representation. From 1937, T. J. Campbell
and Richard Byrne
were the only Nationalist MPs to take their seats until Byrne's death in 1942 and Campbell's resignation in 1945. It was not until 1965 that the Nationalist Party agreed to form the Official Opposition in the House of Commons. Eddie McAteer
served as Leader of the Opposition from 1965 until he lost his seat in the 1969 election. Roderick O'Connor succeeded McAteer as Nationalist Party leader but the party again withdrew from its role as Official Opposition.
Leader of the Opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government...
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...
was theoretically the leader of the largest party in the Northern Ireland House of Commons which was not the government. The position was eliminated in 1972 when the Stormont
Stormont
-People:* Lord Stormont, British ambassador to France in the 18th century-Structures:* Stormont , first-class cricket ground in the Stormont Estate* Stormont Castle, currently used by the Northern Ireland Executive...
parliament was abolished and replaced by direct rule
Direct Rule
Direct rule was the term given, during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, to the administration of Northern Ireland directly from Westminster, seat of United Kingdom government...
from London.
Compiling a list of Northern Irish Leaders of the Opposition is complicated by the fact that members of the Irish Nationalist opposition at Stormont often practiced a policy of abstentionism
Abstentionism
Abstentionism is standing for election to a deliberative assembly while refusing to take up any seats won or otherwise participate in the assembly's business. Abstentionism differs from an election boycott in that abstentionists participate in the election itself...
where they would run for seats in the parliament but refuse to take them if elected in order not to give legitimacy to British rule or the partition of the island and refused to accept recognition as the Official Opposition until 1965 despite the fact that they were the second party in the House of Commons in terms of seats won from 1925 until 1972 and had been tied for second with Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
(which was also abstentionist) in the first Northern Ireland House of Commons from 1921 to 1925.
Though the Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
The Nationalist Party† - was the continuation of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and was formed after partition, by the Northern Ireland-based members of the IPP....
was consistently the second largest party in the Northern Ireland House of Commons its members refused to take their seats in the legislature until 1924, then resumed the abstentionist policy in the 1930s to protest the abolition of proportional representation. From 1937, T. J. Campbell
T. J. Campbell
T. J. Campbell is the name of:* Thomas Jefferson Campbell , U.S. congressman from Tennessee* Thomas Joseph Campbell , Irish politician, newspaper editor and judge....
and Richard Byrne
Richard Byrne
Richard Byrne was an Irish nationalist politician in Northern Ireland.Byrne worked as a publican and was also a landlord. He was elected to Belfast City Council in 1910, serving until his death. At the Northern Ireland general election, 1921, Byrne unsuccessfully contested Belfast West.Byrne...
were the only Nationalist MPs to take their seats until Byrne's death in 1942 and Campbell's resignation in 1945. It was not until 1965 that the Nationalist Party agreed to form the Official Opposition in the House of Commons. Eddie McAteer
Eddie McAteer
Eddie McAteer was an nationalist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Coatbridge, Scotland, McAteer's family moved to Derry in Northern Ireland while he was young. In 1930 he joined the Inland Revenue, where he worked until 1944. He then became an accountant and more actively involved in politics...
served as Leader of the Opposition from 1965 until he lost his seat in the 1969 election. Roderick O'Connor succeeded McAteer as Nationalist Party leader but the party again withdrew from its role as Official Opposition.