4 The Irish Anti-Partition League
-
Christopher Norton
Abstract
This chapter examines the context in which constitutional nationalists abandoned parliamentary abstentionism and took their seats at Stormont and Westminster. The impact of the return of a Labour Government at Westminster, and the establishment of a Labour backbencher ginger group (the Friends of Ireland) which raised concerns over Catholic disadvantage in Northern Ireland, is discussed. The chapter also looks at the establishment of a new nationalist political formation in 1945, the Irish Anti-Partition League (IAPL), and at early contemplation of a new reconciliation policy that would reach out to unionists. It is argued that by 1946 such ideas had been abandoned and that the IALP returned to a policy of demanding immediate national reunification. The effects on Northern anti-partitionist politics ushered in by developments in southern Ireland - the election of the Coalition Government and the passing of the Republic of Ireland Act in 1948; the establishment of an all-party anti-partition committee (the Mansion House Committee) in the Republic in 1949 - are considered. It is argued that the resulting heightening of nationalist expectations was ultimately to have profoundly negative consequences for politics in the North.
Abstract
This chapter examines the context in which constitutional nationalists abandoned parliamentary abstentionism and took their seats at Stormont and Westminster. The impact of the return of a Labour Government at Westminster, and the establishment of a Labour backbencher ginger group (the Friends of Ireland) which raised concerns over Catholic disadvantage in Northern Ireland, is discussed. The chapter also looks at the establishment of a new nationalist political formation in 1945, the Irish Anti-Partition League (IAPL), and at early contemplation of a new reconciliation policy that would reach out to unionists. It is argued that by 1946 such ideas had been abandoned and that the IALP returned to a policy of demanding immediate national reunification. The effects on Northern anti-partitionist politics ushered in by developments in southern Ireland - the election of the Coalition Government and the passing of the Republic of Ireland Act in 1948; the establishment of an all-party anti-partition committee (the Mansion House Committee) in the Republic in 1949 - are considered. It is argued that the resulting heightening of nationalist expectations was ultimately to have profoundly negative consequences for politics in the North.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- List of abbreviations ix
- Introduction 1
- 1 The politics of abstentionism, 1932–39 8
- 2 The outbreak of war, 1939–40 31
- 3 The war years, 1940–45 49
- 4 The Irish Anti-Partition League 75
- 5 Deteriorating relations with Dublin, 1950–55 96
- 6 The Sinn Féin challenge and the birth of the Nationalist Party, 1955–59 121
- 7 National Unity 140
- 8 Nationalist Party 153
- Conclusion 177
- Bibliography 181
- Index 188
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- List of abbreviations ix
- Introduction 1
- 1 The politics of abstentionism, 1932–39 8
- 2 The outbreak of war, 1939–40 31
- 3 The war years, 1940–45 49
- 4 The Irish Anti-Partition League 75
- 5 Deteriorating relations with Dublin, 1950–55 96
- 6 The Sinn Féin challenge and the birth of the Nationalist Party, 1955–59 121
- 7 National Unity 140
- 8 Nationalist Party 153
- Conclusion 177
- Bibliography 181
- Index 188
