The ulster unionist party and the bannside by‐election 1970

Abstract

This article is primarily concerned with the 1970 Bannside by‐election in Northern Ireland and the political significance of this contest. It puts this event into the context of the condition of the ruling Unionist Party at this historical juncture and highlights issues concerning party organisation and mode of operation which have a contemporary resonance. It is argued that the Unionist Party fought the Bannside campaign against the challenge of the Reverend Ian Paisley in a notably secular and civic‐minded style which also foreshadowed future attempts to so position the party. The outcome of the contest, it is suggested, did much to ensure that Unionist party political divisions would become a defining feature of Northern Ireland politics.

Acknowledgements

The research for this article was assisted by a grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB).

Notes

On 21 March 1969 the UUC issued a statement to the effect that while membership of another organisation was permissible, he/she may not play a part in an organisation which has in the past, or may in the future, sponsor or support candidates for election other than official Unionist candidates. The NUM was to form the basis, later in 1970, for the formation of the Alliance Party. Alliance actively attempted to appeal across the sectarian divide, and become the party of the moderate centre ground in Northern Ireland.

Ulster Times, May 1970. This paper succeeded The Unionist. The committee set up by Chichester‐Clark delivered a report in July 1971 which proposed a tightening up of membership rights and responsibilities, and a reduction in Young Unionist representation on the UUC (Harbinson, 1973: 170). It should be noted that Chichester‐Clark was himself ‘de‐selected’ in 1970.

See critical note in Ulster Times, June 1970 regarding the ‘drum beating’ of the Westminster Unionist MPs; also UUC pamphlet on Public relations Fund (n.d., c.1970), Linenhall Library Political Collection.

See speech to Larkfield Unionist Association 20 November 1969, included in collection of Unionist Party press releases, Linenhall Library Political Collection. It should also be noted that a public committee on community relations had been set up, headed by Maurice Hayes, a Catholic civil servant.

The Irish News (15 April 1970) reported that some of Paisley's election posters read as follows: ‘For God and Ulster. Remember your Protestant Heritage is at stake in this Election. Don't be deceived. Minford [the Unionist Party candidate] is another O'Neill. Minford backs the Clark government.’

Nat Minford had aroused the disapproval of the Unionist Party leadership in the 1950s on account of some sectarian outbursts. His conduct was thought to have moderated during the 1960s.

See discussion of this in cabinet, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), CAB 4/1533. Bradford's attempt to dissuade ministers from so doing failed.

• The voting figures were as follows.

• Bannside 1970: Paisley, Rev. I. (Protestant Unionist) 7,981; Minford, Dr B. (Unionist) 6,778; McHugh, P. (NILP) 3,514.

• South Antrim 1970: Beattie, Rev. W. (Protestant Unionist) 7,137; Morgan, W. (Unionist) 6,179; Corkey, D. (Independent) 5,212; Whitby, A. (NILP) 1,773.

• The figures for Bannside at the 1969 general election were: O'Neill, Capt. T. (Unionist) 7,745; Paisley, Rev. I. (Protestant Unionist) 6,331; Farrell, M. (People's Democracy) 2,310.

Northern Ireland House of Commons Report, Vol.75, 22 April 1970, c.1702: ‘He [O'Neill] came to this House and talked at great length about British standards and about British ways of living and about himself as the apostle of progress. Yet every day he passed 200 houses, old dilapidated dwellings, in his nearby village of Ahoghill, 97 of which have been condemned as unfit for human habitation by the medical officer in that district.’ Paisley also used the opportunity of his maiden speech to reply to attacks on him and his influence made by Roy Bradford. Paisley was sponsored on his first day in the House of Commons by malcontented Unionist Party mavericks Desmond Boal and William Craig.

Paisleyite influence on the Orange Order at the time was stressed at a recent symposium at the University of Ulster (8 November 2002) by the Westminster Unionist MP Willie Ross.

This constituency, which included Bannside, was heavily Presbyterian with a large number of small farmers. There was a history of tensions in the area relating to the Unionist Party, for example over the choice of party candidate at the general election of 1929. For details see PRONI, D3480/59/81, Robert Lynn Papers.

See report on Young Unionist Council meeting 2 June 1970, Unionist Party press releases, Linenhall Library Political Collection. Among officers elected were Craig, Knox‐Cunningham, Boal and Harry West, and lesser known figures who were to make an important impact on the party in later years, namely Reg Empey, John Laird, Dennis Rogan, Clifford Smyth and Roy Garland. The contrasting display of loyalty to the leadership by the women's association should be noted.