Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- List of Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chapter One The Origin of the MacBride Principles
- Chapter Two MacBride and the Campaign after the Publication of the Principles
- Chapter Three MacBride and the British Government
- Chapter Four MacBride and the Irish Government
- Chapter Five MacBride and the British Labour Party
- Chapter Six MacBride, the SDLP and Sinn Féin
- Conclusion
- Appendices
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
Chapter Five - MacBride and the British Labour Party
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- List of Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chapter One The Origin of the MacBride Principles
- Chapter Two MacBride and the Campaign after the Publication of the Principles
- Chapter Three MacBride and the British Government
- Chapter Four MacBride and the Irish Government
- Chapter Five MacBride and the British Labour Party
- Chapter Six MacBride, the SDLP and Sinn Féin
- Conclusion
- Appendices
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
We take the view that the MacBride Principles simply state what is widely accepted as necessary to reduce inequalities and we have said so.
(Peter Archer MP, 27 March 1987)It is also more appropriate that the government should set its own house in order and develop effective legislation than seek to defend inadequate policies in federal courts and state legislatures throughout the United States.
(Kevin McNamara MP, 20 June 1988)The brightest jewel among the few MacBride supporters in the British Isles was the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Archer. He had quietly repositioned the Labour Party following the adoption of its unity-by-consent policy. He had inherited an unfortunate legacy from the Mason period (the last Labour Secretary of State for Northern Ireland) and Concannon's unhappy visit as Shadow Secretary of State to the dying Bobby Sands. Archer said of his relations with MacBride: ‘we were very good friends … we were together at the very beginning of Amnesty and we have remained friends ever since’. They were both distinguished human rights lawyers and members of the International Commission of Jurists. He had discussed with MacBride some of the more contentious Principles: ‘When there was an argument about whether he meant a quota system or simply removing the handicaps against Catholics, I said, “Well what do you mean?”, and he said, “I don't mean a quota system, I meant removing handicaps”.’
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- Information
- The Macbride PrinciplesIrish America Strikes Back, pp. 165 - 189Publisher: Liverpool University PressPrint publication year: 2009