Politics of the United Kingdom

The politics of the United Kingdom are based upon a unitary state and a constitutional monarchy. Its system of government (often known as the Westminster system) has been adopted by other countries, such as Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Jamaica.

Politics in Northern Ireland

Politics in Northern Ireland is particularly complex, due to the history of Northern Ireland, particularly 'The Troubles'. Until the 1960s the three main parties in Great Britain were mirrored in Northern Ireland, with the Ulster Unionist Party serving as the regional wing of the Conservative Party whilst the small Ulster Liberal Party served a similar role for the Liberal Party. The Northern Ireland Labour Party was not as strongly tied to the UK Labour Party but the differences were not obvious. Also in existence were the Nationalist Party and Sinn Féin, both of whom were committed to the political unification of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Related Topics:
Northern Ireland - History of Northern Ireland - The Troubles - 1960s - Great Britain - Ulster Unionist Party - Conservative Party - Ulster Liberal Party - Liberal Party - Northern Ireland Labour Party - Labour Party - Nationalist Party - Sinn Féin - Unification - Republic of Ireland

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From the late 1960s until the mid-1990s, Northern Ireland was plagued by civil unrest and paramilitarism, known as the Troubles. In the process the political parties were greatly disrupted. The Ulster Unionist Party discontinued its links with the Conservative Party in protest at the Sunningdale Agreement. The Ulster Liberal Party remained a part of the now Liberal Democratic Party but faced with marginal support it chose to form a sibling relationship with the Alliance Party. The Northern Ireland Labour Party folded amidst a widespread realignment of political parties; with the British party in theory entering into an alliance, through the Socialist International with the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party and retaining its policy (until recently) of refusing Northern Ireland residents membership of the party. Many other political parties have sprung up representing different strands of unionism, nationalism or cross-community politics, but few have lasted any substantial period of time.

Related Topics:
1960s - 1990s - The Troubles - Ulster Unionist Party - Sunningdale Agreement - Ulster Liberal Party - Liberal Democratic Party - Alliance Party - Northern Ireland Labour Party - Socialist International - Social Democratic and Labour Party - Unionism - Nationalism

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More recently there have been calls for the mainstream British parties to organise and stand in elections in Northern Ireland. The Conservative Party has done so since the late 1980s but its support has been minimal whilst the Liberal Democrats have continued to endorse Alliance candidates.

Related Topics:
British - Northern Ireland

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The current government of Northern Ireland was established as a result of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement (GFA), properly known as the Belfast Agreement.

Related Topics:
1998 - Good Friday Agreement - Belfast Agreement

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The collapse of the assembly created by the GFA accelerated the polarisation of Northern Ireland's politics, with the SDLP's eclipse by Sinn Féin (both of which are in favour of the agreement) in 2001 being mirrored by the anti-GFA DUP overtaking the UUP in the November 2003 poll for a new Assembly (which has yet to meet).

Related Topics:
2001 - November - 2003

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The main parties in Northern Ireland are:

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• Democratic Unionist Party (a hard-line Unionist party)
• Sinn Féin (an Irish Republican party with links to the Provisional Irish Republican Army)
• Ulster Unionist Party (a conservative unionist party)
• Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) (a social democratic nationalist party)
• Alliance Party (a liberal, cross-community party)
• Progressive Unionist Party (a centre-left unionist party with links to loyalist paramilitaries)
• UK Unionist Party (a tiny party that serves as a vehicle for Robert McCartney, a unionist)
• Conservative Party (part of the UK Conservative Party)

There are many smaller parties both past and present, reflecting the turbulent changes in Northern Ireland politics. Most can be identified as either unionist or nationalist, though a few seek to eschew any position on the "Border Question" (and invariably receive much less support). As a result the question of left-wing or right-wing politics is not as pertinent; although existing parties can be defined at some point on the political spectrum, few seek to promote a left or right wing agenda.

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