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Preamble |
Chapters
- Salaries and Taxation
- Pensions
- Benefits
- Health and Care
- Education
- Housing
- Employment
- Trades Unions and Labour Laws
- Trade and Industry
- Transport
- Energy
- Environment
- Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Rural Life
- Crime
- Legal System
- Immigration and Asylum
- Local Government
- Devolution and Regional Government
- Parliament and Democracy
- Media
- Freedom of Information and Privacy
- Northern Ireland
- European Union
- Foreign Policy
- Defence and Disarmament
- Conclusions
|
| The Tories have traditionally supported the union with Britain, and so were seen as more supportive of the Unionist community, although it is now known that they had secret contacts with the IRA. Final decisions over parades by either community were taken by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) which was overwhelmingly from the Unionist community. The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), with provisions contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights, was specifically created to deal with IRA attacks, but had to be renewed each year. |
| Labour policy was: |
| 1 |
For the unification of Ireland achieved by peaceful and consensual means |
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| 2 |
To reorganise the RUC into a force fairly representing both communities (?) |
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| 3 |
To ban parades which harm relations between the communities(?) |
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| 4 |
To repeal the PTA |
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| In fact under New Labour: |
| 1 |
Tony Blair said "I believe in the United Kingdom" and that a united Ireland was not in prospect for anyone alive today |
 |
| 2 |
A representative police force was agreed, though concessions were made to Unionist feeling |
 |
| 3 |
Decisions on parades were first transferred to an independent commission and will now be made according to legislation to be agreed by the Northerm Ireland Assembly |
 |
| 4 |
The PTA was instead made permanent and extended to cover even property crime |
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| In addition: |
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Many powers were devolved to a Northern Ireland Assembly, which might have been impossible if the government had been more identified with nationalist aspirations |
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The same standards were not expected of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) as of the IRA, e.g. over weapons decommissioning |
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