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Short Northern Ireland Political breakdown for those Interested (February 2024 Updated)
Introduction:Northern Ireland is divided politically, religiously and culturally between two main Communities, Irish Nationalists and British Unionists. This Divide has existed in Northern Ireland from its creation in 1921 during the partition of Ireland in the aftermath of the Irish War of Independence to the modern day and is the basis for almost every single debate or issue in the country. This Divide is also responsible for the armed conflict fought in Northern Ireland from the 1960s-1990s known as The Troubles, which was a conflict fought between three main groups: Irish Republicans (More hardcore and militant Irish Nationalists that see any form of British Rule in Ireland as Illegitimate) who fought for an Independent United Ireland and as a response to discrimination against Irish Catholics, Ulster Loyalists (More hardcore and militant Unionists who are fiercely loyal to the British Crown) who fought to preserve Northern Ireland's status in the United Kingdom and British State Security forces such as the British Army, Police and other who fought to retain Northern Irelands position in the United Kingdom and to end armed paramilitary campaigns.
The Troubles began in the 1960s after growing discontent and sectarian violence between the minority Nationalist community and the majority Unionist Community. Nationalists were subject to constant discrimination in many areas of Northern Irish Society such as Gerrymandered Electoral boundaries to ensure Unionist political victories in areas they were a minority (eg. Derry), a Highly sectarian police force that was almost entirely Protestant and one that persecuted the Irish Catholic minority and state level favouritism towards Protestants for Jobs, Benefits, Housing and others. This all came to ahead with a Civil Rights campaign known as the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) which campaigned for Equality in Northern Ireland between Nationalist and Unionists and which suffered from a fierce crackdown by the Unionist government which led to increased clashes between both communities and the police across the country. This outbreak of sectarian violence ultimately culminated in multiple armed paramilitary campaigns (which consisted of mass killings, ambushes, bombings, murders, abductions and more) being launched in Northern Ireland and the deployment of British Military forces to the region, who whilst initially seen as a neutral party by Irish Nationalists were soon seen as an enemy due to their brutal conduct and one-sidedness toward Irish Nationalists as the conflict went on.
Some notable armed groups from this conflict include The Irish Republican Army (Split between three main groups, Provisional IRA, Continuity IRA and the Official IRA) and the Irish National Liberation Army which fought against British rule in Northern Ireland. The Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Defence Association and Red Hand Commandoes which fought against Republican paramilitaries and to keep Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom.
The Troubles ended in 1998 with a peace agreement known as the Good Friday Agreement which created a new power sharing based executive known as the Stormont Assembly which required Nationalists and Unionists to sit in government together and saw an end to armed campaigns by most paramilitary groups and a restructuring of Northern Ireland to create a more equal country between Nationalists and Unionists. This also led to the removal of most British Military forces from Northern Ireland though some paramilitaries continue to operate to this day largely in the form of drug gangs and criminal organisations.
Political Designations:*
Irish Nationalists: Predominantly Catholic, Identify as Irish and wish to see a United Ireland.
Irish Republicanism: Off shoot of Irish Nationalism that sees all British rule in Ireland as inherently illegitimate and supports a United Irish Republic.
British Unionists: Predominantly Protestant, Identify as British and wish to remain in the United Kingdom
Ulster Loyalism: Hardcore Unionists primarily loyal to the British Monarchy rather than the State or UK government and associated with working class protestant communities.
Other: Groups or Individuals which do not take a distinct stance on the Constitutional status of Northern Ireland, or do but identify with another Ideology first and foremost, i.e Socialist, Green politics etc.
Irish Nationalism and Republicanism are predominantly left-wing ideologies, particularly in Northern Ireland though right wing forms exist across the Island. British Unionism and Ulster Loyalism are predominantly Right-Wing Ideologies with some smaller attempts at left-wing Unionist movements that have failed to take off.
*In Northern Ireland all Political Parties or Independents must identify themselves as one of the three following designations when they take their seats in the Assembly, Council or in Westminster: Nationalist, Unionist or Other.
Major Political Parties:
Nationalist:
Sinn Fein: Largest Nationalist party and now the largest party overall in Northern Ireland as of the 2022 Assembly Election after a historic win, where a surge in support allowed it to hold all of its current seats as well as drawing in many more first preference voters. An Irish Republican party formed in the 1970s that moved from the fringes of NI's political landscape to its mainstream in the early 2000's. Centre Left - Left-wing with ties and connections to the Irish Republican Army. Does not take its seats in Westminster due to Abstentionist Policy originating from their Republican views. Achieved a historic win in the 2023 local elections, becoming the largest party overall in local government and the first Nationalist party to achieve such a result. An all-Ireland party that operates in Both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Pro-EU. Leader is Michelle O'Neil (Northern) Mary Lou McDonald (Southern and main leader)
Social Democratic Labour Party (SDLP): More Moderate Nationalist Party that is the second largest Nationalist Party and now the fifth Largest Party overall after a heavy defeat in the 2022 Assembly Election, losing multiple seats and many voters. Suffered a further heavy defeat in the 2023 local elections, falling down to fifth place from third in local government. Heavily tied to the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association during the Troubles and formerly the largest Nationalist Party from its foundation in 1970 until the early 2000's. Centre-Left and rejects Militant Irish Republicanism and armed violence. Pro-EU. Takes seats in Westminster. Leader is Colum Eastwood.
Unionist:
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP): Largest Unionist Party and second largest party overall in Northern Ireland after a defeat in the 2022 Assembly Election, losing both seats and a large chunk of its voter base. Fell to second place in local government behind Sinn Fein in the 2023 local elections but maintained their seat count. A loyalist and very Conservative Party that was formed in 1971 and moved from the Fringes of Northern Irish politics to the mainstream in the early 2000's to supplant the UUP as the largest Unionist Party, drawing support from discontented Unionists. Right-wing and has ties to Loyalist Paramilitaries such as the UDA. Highly socially conservative and deeply religiously oriented. Hard Eurosceptic. Takes seats in Westminster. Leader is Jeffrey Donaldson
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP): A More moderate Unionist Party that was formed in 1905 and governed Northern Ireland from 1921-1972, its governmental policies and sectarian attitudes were a driving factor towards the beginning of the Troubles. Declined heavily in the 2000s post Good Friday Agreement and has stagnated throughout the 2010s failing to make gains. Second Largest Unionist Party since the early 2000's and currently Fourth Largest Party overall in Northern Ireland as of the 2022 Assembly election where the party failed to make any breakthroughs. Declined once more in the 2023 local elections, falling to fourth place after heavy losses. Centre-Right and has become more socially liberal in recent years but still conservative in nature. Originally Pro-EU, adopted pro-Brexit approach after the Brexit Referendum. Takes seats in Westminster. Leader is Doug Beattie.
Other:
Alliance Party (APNI): Liberal and Non-sectarian Centrist Party formed in 1970. Traditionally the Fifth Largest party in Northern Ireland though has now achieved a breakthrough win in the 2022 Assembly election becoming the third largest party in the country, a first for a party from an "Other" designation, moving past both the SDLP and UUP. Achieved another success in the 2023 local election, becoming the third largest party at a local level as well, a historic first for an "Other" party. Formerly a moderate Unionist Party when it was founded, Alliance moved towards a position of neutrality on the Union in the 1990s and aims to hold a middle ground between the two main communities. Centre - Centre-Left. Pro-EU. Takes Seats in Westminster. Sister party of the Liberal Democrats. Leader is Naomi Long.
Smaller Political Parties:
Nationalist:
Aontu: Socially conservative and Irish Republican party formed in 2019 after splitting from Sinn Fein over its Abortion stance. All-Ireland party that operates in Both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Party failed to achieve breakthroughs in the 2022 Assembly and 2023 local elections and lost all representation in Northern Ireland in the latter election. Soft Eurosceptic. Centre-right - Rightwing. Leader is Peader Toibin.
Unionist:
Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV): Extremely Conservative Loyalist party that was formed in 2007 after splitting from the DUP due to it entering government with Sinn Fein as part of the St. Andrews Agreement (2006). Has stagnated as a party until the 2022 Assembly election, where ever though it didn't win any new seats, it massively increased its vote share at the expense of the DUP, putting it close to winning multiple seats, but was not able to capitalise on this and failed to achieve major breakthroughs in the 2023 local election despite small gains in some districts. Right-Wing. Hard Eurosceptic. Leader is Jim Allister.
Progressive Unionist Party (PUP): Smaller left-wing Unionist Party formed in 1979. Ties with the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commandos. Declined and Stagnated in 2000s and 2010s after initial success post GFA under David Ervine. It lost one of its two councillors in the 2023 Local Election. Leader is Russell Watton.
Conservatives NI: Northern Ireland Branch of the UK Conservative Party. Failed to make any gains in elections and enjoys effectively no support. Used to have a few councillors in the 1990s before losing them in 2001. Leader is Matthew Robinson.
Other:
People Before Profit (PBP): Socialist/Trotskyist Party formed in 2005 and is an All-Ireland party that operates in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Supports Irish Reunification but does not designate as Nationalist in NI, preferring instead the label of "Socialist" and is classed as "Other" but heavily leans towards Irish Nationalism and is strongest in Nationalist areas. Enjoyed some success in mid 2010s but has stagnated since. Party suffered major losses in the 2023 Local elections and now retains only two councillors and its sole MLA. Far Left. Eurosceptic. Collective Leadership.
Green Party: Non Sectarian Green party formed in 1983, associated with the Irish Green Party. The Green party was wiped out at an Assembly level in the 2022 Assembly election, retaining only its councillors from the 2019 local election. The Party suffered more losses in the 2023 local elections but retained the majority of its local government representatives. Neutral on the Union. Centre-Left. Pro-EU. Leader is Malachai O'Hara
There are many smaller parties with no representation, they will not be listed here unless they actually make a breakthrough which basically none of them stand a chance at doing. There are also multiple Independent MLA's and many Independent Councillors.
How the Executive Works:
Northern Irelands Executive is a power sharing executive, meaning that Nationalists and Unionists must work together in order for the executive to function. This is to prevent one community from dominating the other politically. The offices of First Minister and Deputy First Minister are the head offices of the executive and despite the name difference they have the same power and function. The First Minister position is held by a member of the Largest Party (Not necessarily from the largest Denomination and the Deputy First Minister position is held by a member of the Largest Party of the Largest Designation (i.e Nationalist). Other Ministerial Positions can be held by members of the parties that make up the Government using the D'hondt method assigning seats based on propotion of votes and MLA's.
The Northern Ireland Executive recently collapsed in 2022 after the DUP's Paul Givan resign as First Minister in February 2022, leading to an election where Sinn Fein emerged as the largest party for the first time with the DUP in second place. Power sharing was not restored until February 2024 when the DUP agreed to re-enter the executive alongside Sinn Fein, the UUP and the Alliance Party. The current First Minister is Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Fein) and the current Deputy First Minister is Emma Little Pengelly (DUP).
The SDLP did not qualify for a ministerial position due to the lack of elected MLA's and as such now serves as the current Official Opposition at Stormont, led by Matthew O'Toole
The next NI Assembly election is schedule for 2027.