Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

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 her department, the Northern Ireland Office. The post is currently held by Vernon Coaker, following Ivan Lewis's sacking by new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. 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.

Shadow Secretaries of State

Name Entered office Left office Political party Shadow Cabinet
Merlyn Rees 24 March 1972 4 March 1974 Labour Harold Wilson
Francis Pym 4 March 1974 29 October 1974 Conservative  
 
Edward Heath
 
 
Ian Gilmour 29 October 1974 18 February 1975 Conservative
 
Airey Neave
 		 18 February 1975 30 March 1979 Conservative
Margaret Thatcher
Roy Mason 4 May 1979 14 July 1979 Labour James Callaghan
Brynmor John 14 July 1979 8 December 1980 Labour
Don Concannon 8 December 1980 31 October 1983 Labour Michael Foot
Peter Archer 31 October 1983 13 July 1987 Labour  
Neil Kinnock
 
 
Kevin McNamara
 		 13 July 1987 20 October 1994 Labour
John Smith
Margaret Beckett
Mo Mowlam 20 October 1994 2 May 1997 Labour Tony Blair
Andrew Mackay 23 June 1997 14 September 2001 Conservative William Hague
Quentin Davies 14 September 2001 11 November 2003 Conservative Iain Duncan Smith
David Lidington 11 November 2003 2 July 2007 Conservative Michael Howard
David Cameron
Owen Paterson 2 July 2007 11 May 2010 Conservative
Shaun Woodward 11 May 2010 7 October 2011 Labour Harriet Harman
Ed Miliband
Vernon Coaker 7 October 2011 7 October 2013 Labour
Ivan Lewis 7 October 2013 13 September 2015 Labour
Harriet Harman
Vernon Coaker 13 September 2015 Incumbent Labour Jeremy Corbyn

References

    See also

    External links

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