Brian McConnell, Baron McConnell
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Robert William Brian McConnell, Baron McConnell was an Ulster Unionist MP in the Northern Ireland House of Commons.
Schooled at Sedbergh School and at Queen's University, Belfast, Brian McConnell was first elected to Stormont at the Northern Ireland general election, 1953. In 1962 Lord Brookeborough appointed him Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance (Government Chief Whip), and after holding a junior office at the relatively new Ministry of Health, he became Minister of Home Affairs in 1964 in the government of Terence O'Neill.
In 1966 however Ian Paisley led a protest to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland for the installation of a new Moderator. At the protest the Governor of Northern Ireland, Lord Erskine was jostled on his way into the building, an incident which was attributed to the future ill health and ultimately the death of Lady Erskine. This was largely blamed on McConnell (who was in London at the time), and his period in elected office was effectively over.
Always a close associate of James Molyneaux, McConnell was raised to a life peerage as Baron McConnell, of Lisburn in the County of Antrim on February 15, 1995, reportedly owing to the then Prime Minister's reliance on Ulster Unionist votes to maintain his minority government. Molyneaux was criticized for the nomination of McConnell owing to his age when it was felt that a younger candidate should have been nominated.
An active member of the House of Lords, McConnell died on October 24, 2000.
| Parliament of Northern Ireland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir John Milne Barbour |
Member of Parliament of Northern Ireland for South Antrim 1951-1968 |
Succeeded by Richard Ferguson |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Terence O'Neill |
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health and Local Government Mar 1963–Jul 1964 |
Succeeded by William Kennedy Fitzsimmons |
| Preceded by William Craig |
Minister of Home Affairs Jul 1964–Oct 1966 |
Succeeded by William Craig |
| Preceded by Newly created office |
Minister of State, Ministry Of Development Oct 1966–Sept 1967 |
Succeeded by Office vacant |
