Northern Ireland Secretary

Northern Ireland Secretary is a senior Cabinet position in the Government of the United Kingdom, responsible for overseeing the affairs of Northern Ireland. The office is held by a member of the House of Commons, who is appointed by the Monarch of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The Northern Ireland Secretary works closely with the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, as well as other key figures such as the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The office is based at Stormont House in Belfast, and the Northern Ireland Secretary is supported by the Northern Ireland Office, which is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom.

History of the Office

The office of Northern Ireland Secretary was created in 1972, during the period of Direct Rule in Northern Ireland, when the British Government took direct control of the region's affairs. The first Northern Ireland Secretary was William Whitelaw, who played a key role in implementing the Sunningdale Agreement and establishing the Northern Ireland Assembly. Other notable holders of the office include Merlyn Rees, who served during the Irish Hunger Strike and the Maze Prison escape, and Peter Brooke, who was instrumental in establishing the Downing Street Declaration and the Framework Documents. The Northern Ireland Secretary has also worked closely with other key figures, such as the Taoiseach of Ireland, including Garret FitzGerald and Bertie Ahern, and the President of the United States, including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Responsibilities and Powers

The Northern Ireland Secretary is responsible for overseeing the affairs of Northern Ireland, including the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the St Andrews Agreement. The office holder is also responsible for representing the interests of Northern Ireland in the Cabinet and working with other government departments, such as the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice. The Northern Ireland Secretary has a range of powers, including the ability to make Orders in Council and to appoint members to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. The office holder also works closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Prison Service, as well as other key organizations, such as the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

List of Northern Ireland Secretaries

The following is a list of Northern Ireland Secretaries: * William Whitelaw (1972-1973) * Francis Pym (1973-1974) * Merlyn Rees (1974-1976) * Roy Mason (1976-1979) * Humphrey Atkins (1979-1981) * James Prior (1981-1984) * Douglas Hurd (1984-1985) * Tom King (1985-1989) * Peter Brooke (1989-1992) * Patrick Mayhew (1992-1997) * Mo Mowlam (1997-1999) * Peter Mandelson (1999-2001) * John Reid (2001-2002) * Paul Murphy (2002-2005) * Peter Hain (2005-2007) * Shaun Woodward (2007-2010) * Owen Paterson (2010-2012) * Theresa Villiers (2012-2016) * James Brokenshire (2016-2018) * Karen Bradley (2018-2019) * Julian Smith (2019-2020) * Brandon Lewis (2020-present)

Role in Devolved Government

The Northern Ireland Secretary plays a key role in supporting the devolved government in Northern Ireland, which was established under the Good Friday Agreement. The office holder works closely with the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Northern Ireland Assembly to ensure the effective implementation of devolved policies. The Northern Ireland Secretary also has a range of responsibilities in relation to the devolved government, including the power to call elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly and to appoint members to the Northern Ireland Assembly's committees. The office holder also works with other key figures, such as the Scottish Secretary and the Welsh Secretary, to ensure a coordinated approach to devolution across the United Kingdom.

Predecessor Offices

The office of Northern Ireland Secretary has its roots in the Chief Secretary for Ireland, which was a key position in the Government of Ireland prior to the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The Chief Secretary for Ireland was responsible for overseeing the affairs of Ireland and was a member of the Cabinet. Other predecessor offices include the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the Governor of Northern Ireland, which were both senior positions in the Government of Ireland and the Government of Northern Ireland respectively. The Northern Ireland Secretary has also worked closely with other key figures, such as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to ensure a coordinated approach to the governance of Northern Ireland.

Category:Government of the United Kingdom