Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
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The Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is a member of the UK Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and his department, the Northern Ireland Office. The post is currently occupied by David Lidington, MP for Aylesbury. He is assisted by shadow ministers Laurence Robertson, MP for Tewkesbury, in the Commons and Lord Glentoran CBE DL and The Viscount Bridgeman in the Lords.
The post is replicated in the Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team, where Lembit Öpik, MP for Montgomeryshire, is the Liberal Democrat spokesman on Northern Ireland. Unlike the Secretary of State, or his Conservate shadow, he was also born and educated there. He is supported by Alan Reid, MP for Argyll and Bute in the Commons and Lord Smith of Clifton in the Lords.
In line with the government, where the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is also currently the Secretary of State for Wales, Lembit Öpik is also the Liberal Democrat spokesman for Wales. This is not, however, the case for the Official Opposition, as the Conservative party prefers to keep the roles separate.
Until recently there has been a 'bi-partisan' attitude to Northern Ireland affairs in the House of Commons but the role is influenced by the relationship between the main Official Opposition and parties in the province. Conservatives, for example, generally support the unionist cause, while Labour has traditionally supported Irish nationalism and is allied to the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). The Liberal Democrats favour the cross-community Alliance Party.
The Conservatives have recently been developing a more aggressive strategy for Northern Ireland and have been encouraging members away from the local political parties. Members of the UK Shadow Cabinet have made clear that a bi-partisan position is less acceptable over policy issues such as education.
Although all three parties have members in the province, no shadow secretary of state has ever represented a Northern Irish constituency. This is because although they parties accept members locally, only the Conservatives actually contest elections there. Labour, unlike the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, do not have any formal branches in Northern Ireland and have only recently started accepting members who reside there.
[edit] Shadow Secretaries of State (incomplete)
| Name | Took up post | Relinquished Post | Political party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin McNamara | 1987 | 1994 | Labour |
| Mo Mowlam | 1994 | 1st May, 1997 | Labour |
| Andrew Mackay | 1997 | 18th September, 2001 | Conservative |
| Quentin Davies | 18th September, 2001 | 10th November, 2003 | Conservative |
| David Lidington | 10th November, 2003 | Conservative |
[edit] See also
- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland Office
- UK Shadow Cabinet
- Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team
- Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
- Northern Ireland Grand Committee
