Robin Bailie
Encyclopedia
Robin John Bailie is a Northern Irish
solicitor
and former politician
.
Bailie was born in Toomebridge, County Antrim
, and studied at the Rainey Endowed School
and Queen's University, Belfast. He was a member of the Belfast Junior Chamber of Commerce, and an officer of the Ulster Young Unionist Council. He was associated with the Clifton branch of the Ulster Unionist Party
, and from about 1960, collaborated with other young branch members, including Bob Cooper
in an association which has been compared to the Conservative Party
's Bow Group
. They represented the more liberal wing of the party, and in 1962 they launched a journal, Review, although they were only able to publish a single issue.
Bailie qualified as a solicitor
and was also active in business, becoming a council member of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce
and Industry. In 1962, he claimed that a majority of members of some Orange Lodges in Belfast
were socialists and not Unionists. He was a supporter of Terence O'Neill
's reforms, believing that they had "taken the sting out of the community tension which was sapping the vigour of the province". While he was initially critical of O'Neill's approach to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
(ICTU), he later claimed that O'Neill had "solved the problem of the ICTU".
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1969
, Bailie was elected as Member of Parliament
for Newtownabbey. He was a prominent opponent of the People's Democracy
movement, which he claimed was a revolutionary movement. On 25 March 1971, new Prime Minister
Brian Faulkner
appointed him Minister of Commerce
, and he served until the Parliament was prorogued in 1972. Bailie was also appointed to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
at the same time. While serving in this post, he focussed on the possibilities that membership of the Common Market would offer Northern Ireland, and investigated the possibility of a cross-border development plan for the North West of Ireland.
After prorogation, Faulkner maintained a "shadow" cabinet in which Bailie retained his post, but he resigned from the cabinet and the party in 1973 alongside Robert Porter
, claiming that Faulkner was identifying too closely with the Ulster Vanguard movement. Bailie joined the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
, but retired from active politics.
Out of politics, Bailie focussed on his career as a solicitor and held several directorships, including the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company (GB)
, Fine Wine Wholesalers and Lumnus Mackie.
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...
solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
and former politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Bailie was born in Toomebridge, County 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...
, and studied at the Rainey Endowed School
Rainey Endowed School
Rainey Endowed School,known colloquially as "The Rainey", is a voluntary grammar school in Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The school was founded in 1707 and currently has an enrolment of approximately 750 pupils. The school borders three counties and draws its students from each...
and Queen's University, Belfast. He was a member of the Belfast Junior Chamber of Commerce, and an officer of the Ulster Young Unionist Council. He was associated with the Clifton branch 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...
, and from about 1960, collaborated with other young branch members, including Bob Cooper
Bob Cooper (politician)
Sir Robert George Cooper CBE, known as Bob Cooper was a politician and equal opportunities activist in Northern Ireland....
in an association which has been compared to 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...
's Bow Group
Bow Group
The Bow Group is one of the oldest think tanks in the United Kingdom. Taking its name from the Bow area of London where it first met, it was founded in 1951...
. They represented the more liberal wing of the party, and in 1962 they launched a journal, Review, although they were only able to publish a single issue.
Bailie qualified as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
and was also active in business, becoming a council member of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
and Industry. In 1962, he claimed that a majority of members of some Orange Lodges 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...
were socialists and not Unionists. He was a supporter 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...
's reforms, believing that they had "taken the sting out of the community tension which was sapping the vigour of the province". While he was initially critical of O'Neill's approach to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions , formed in 1959 by the merger of the Irish Trade Union Congress and the Congress of Irish Unions , is a national trade union centre, the umbrella organisation to which trade unions in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland affiliate.-Influence:There...
(ICTU), he later claimed that O'Neill had "solved the problem of the ICTU".
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1969
Northern Ireland general election, 1969
-References:*...
, Bailie was elected as Member of Parliament
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,...
for Newtownabbey. He was a prominent opponent of the People's Democracy
People's Democracy
People's Democracy was a political organisation that, while supporting the campaign for civil rights for Northern Ireland's Catholic minority, stated that such rights could only be achieved through the establishment of a socialist republic for all of Ireland...
movement, which he claimed was a revolutionary movement. On 25 March 1971, new Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone...
Brian Faulkner
Brian Faulkner
Arthur Brian Deane Faulkner, Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, PC was the sixth and last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from March 1971 until his resignation in March 1972...
appointed him Minister of Commerce
Minister of Commerce (Northern Ireland)
The Minister of Commerce 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. The post was combined with that of the Minister of Agriculture until 1925...
, and he served until the Parliament was prorogued in 1972. Bailie was also 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....
at the same time. While serving in this post, he focussed on the possibilities that membership of the Common Market would offer Northern Ireland, and investigated the possibility of a cross-border development plan for the North West of Ireland.
After prorogation, Faulkner maintained a "shadow" cabinet in which Bailie retained his post, but he resigned from the cabinet and the party in 1973 alongside Robert Porter
Robert Porter (politician)
Sir Robert Wilson Porter PC , QC is a former politician and barrister in Northern Ireland.Born in Derry, Porter studied at Foyle College and Queen's University Belfast before in 1943 joining the Royal Air Force, and serving until 1946...
, claiming that Faulkner was identifying too closely with the Ulster Vanguard movement. Bailie joined 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....
, but retired from active politics.
Out of politics, Bailie focussed on his career as a solicitor and held several directorships, including the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company (GB)
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
, Fine Wine Wholesalers and Lumnus Mackie.