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 held by Shaun Woodward. The holder is assisted by shadow ministers in the Commons and in the Lords.
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 and in 2008 reformalised a link with the Ulster Unionist Party, while Labour has traditionally supported Irish nationalism and is loosely allied to the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). The Liberal Democrats are linked with the cross-community Alliance Party.
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| Name | Entered office | Left office | Political party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merlyn Rees | 24 March 1972 | 4 March 1974 | Labour | ||
| Francis Pym | 4 March 1974 | 1974 | Conservative | ||
| Airey Neave | 1974 | 18 February 1975 | Conservative | ||
| Airey Neave[1] | 18 February 1975 | 30 March 1979 | Conservative | ||
| Alec Jones | 14 July 1979 | 8 December 1980 | Labour | ||
| Don Concannon | 8 December 1980 | 31 October 1983 | Labour | ||
| Peter Archer | 31 October 1983 | 13 July 1987 | Labour | ||
| Kevin McNamara | 13 July 1987 | 20 October 1994 | Labour | ||
| Mo Mowlam | 20 October 1994 | 2 May 1997 | Labour | ||
| Andrew Mackay | 23 June 1997 | 14 September 2001 | Conservative | ||
| Quentin Davies | 14 September 2001 | 11 November 2003 | Conservative | ||
| David Lidington | 11 November 2003 | 2 July 2007 | Conservative | ||
| Owen Paterson | 2 July 2007 | 11 May 2010 | Conservative | ||
| Shaun Woodward | 11 May 2010 | 7 October 2011 | Labour | ||
| Vernon Coaker | 7 October 2011 | Incumbent | Labour | ||