Ulster Protestant League (1931)
Encyclopedia
The Ulster Protestant League (UPL) was a loyalist organisation in Northern Ireland
.
The organisation was established in 1931 by a group inspired in part by the example of the Scottish Protestant League
. It initially had some links with the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP), and UUP members such as James Hanna McCormick attended its meetings.
The UPL complained that, during a time of economic depression, some jobs were being given to Roman Catholics, proposing that unemployed Protestants should be given priority. It also raised concerns that some Catholics worked in fields such as the Royal Ulster Constabulary
, and noted that some Orange Order marches were occasionally banned by the Government.
In 1932, the UPL campaigned against the Outdoor Relief Strike, a cross-community protest for improved unemployment benefit
s. They claimed that the strike was a cloak for "the communist Sinn Fein
element to attempt to start a revolution in our province", and congratulated the government on breaking up the strike.
The Catholic Truth Society
organised a Eucharistic Congress at the Ulster Hall
in 1934, but this was called off after the UPL organised large protests in Central Belfast
. Two demonstrators, UPL leader Dorothy Harnett and Presbyterian minister Samuel Hanna, were convicted of incitement to disorder.
By the mid-1930s, the UPL was in sharp opposition to the UUP, which they regarded as untrustworthy and soft on Catholicism. Members of the group were active in anti-Catholic riots in 1935, and later in the year, some members gained seats in local elections. The group announced a new policy on Catholics: "neither to talk with, nor walk with, neither to buy nor sell, borrow nor lend, take nor give, or to have any dealings with them at all, nor for employers to employ them nor employees to work with them."
The UUP were concerned at the growing Protestant discontent and sought to move closer to the Orange Order. By the Northern Ireland general election, 1938
, the UPL was in decline, and the main loyalist challenge to the UUP came from the Ulster Progressive Unionist Association
, although independent Unionist
John William Nixon
who had become close to the UPL retained his seat, and the UPL candidate in Belfast Willowfield
took 34.9% of the votes cast.
The UPL remained active until the start of World War II
. During the late 1930s, it organised in support of Franco
's Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War
, and organised heckling at socialist meetings.
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...
.
The organisation was established in 1931 by a group inspired in part by the example of the Scottish Protestant League
Scottish Protestant League
The Scottish Protestant League was a political party in Scotland during the 1920s and 1930s.The League was led by Alexander Ratcliffe, who founded it in 1920...
. It initially had some links 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...
(UUP), and UUP members such as James Hanna McCormick attended its meetings.
The UPL complained that, during a time of economic depression, some jobs were being given to Roman Catholics, proposing that unemployed Protestants should be given priority. It also raised concerns that some Catholics worked in fields such as the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
, and noted that some Orange Order marches were occasionally banned by the Government.
In 1932, the UPL campaigned against the Outdoor Relief Strike, a cross-community protest for improved unemployment benefit
Unemployment benefit
Unemployment benefits are payments made by the state or other authorized bodies to unemployed people. Benefits may be based on a compulsory para-governmental insurance system...
s. They claimed that the strike was a cloak for "the communist Sinn Fein
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...
element to attempt to start a revolution in our province", and congratulated the government on breaking up the strike.
The Catholic Truth Society
Catholic Truth Society
Catholic Truth Society is a body that prints and publishes Catholic literature, including apologetics but also prayerbooks, spiritual reading, lives of saints and so forth...
organised a Eucharistic Congress at the Ulster Hall
Ulster Hall
The Ulster Hall is a concert hall and grade B1 listed building in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Situated on Bedford Street in Belfast city centre, the hall hosts concerts, classical recitals, craft fairs and political party conferences...
in 1934, but this was called off after the UPL organised large protests in Central 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...
. Two demonstrators, UPL leader Dorothy Harnett and Presbyterian minister Samuel Hanna, were convicted of incitement to disorder.
By the mid-1930s, the UPL was in sharp opposition to the UUP, which they regarded as untrustworthy and soft on Catholicism. Members of the group were active in anti-Catholic riots in 1935, and later in the year, some members gained seats in local elections. The group announced a new policy on Catholics: "neither to talk with, nor walk with, neither to buy nor sell, borrow nor lend, take nor give, or to have any dealings with them at all, nor for employers to employ them nor employees to work with them."
The UUP were concerned at the growing Protestant discontent and sought to move closer to the Orange Order. By the Northern Ireland general election, 1938
Northern Ireland general election, 1938
-References:*...
, the UPL was in decline, and the main loyalist challenge to the UUP came from the Ulster Progressive Unionist Association
Ulster Progressive Unionist Association
The Ulster Progressive Unionist Association was a political group which was founded in 1938 and was active in Northern Ireland for a few years thereafter....
, although independent Unionist
Independent Unionist
See also Independent .Independent Unionist has been a label sometimes used by candidates in elections in the United Kingdom, indicating a support for Unionism, retaining the unity of the British state....
John William Nixon
John William Nixon
John William Nixon, MBE was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Graddum, County Cavan, Nixon became a district inspector in the Royal Irish Constabulary, and transferred to its successor in the new state of Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary...
who had become close to the UPL retained his seat, and the UPL candidate in Belfast Willowfield
Belfast Willowfield (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Willowfield was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Willowfield was a borough constituency comprising part of southern Belfast...
took 34.9% of the votes cast.
The UPL remained active until the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. During the late 1930s, it organised in support of Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, and organised heckling at socialist meetings.