Relations between Westminster and Stormont during the Attlee premiership

Abstract

This article begins by considering the nature and extent of friction between Stormont and Westminster up to 1948. This is followed by an analysis of underlying Labour cabinet attitudes towards Northern Ireland immediately after the war and of the simultaneous debate on dominion status being conducted by the Unionist leadership in Belfast. An attempt is then made to assess the impact of the southern government's repeal of the External Relations Act on Stormont's relations with both the London and Dublin administrations. This includes a detailed evaluation of the effectiveness or otherwise of the attempt made by northern politicians to influence the terms of the consequential British legislation, the Ireland Act.