Expert: Wesley Ball - 3/22/2001

Question
What are currently the two major political parties in Parliament. What are their views on the North Ireland conflict?

Answer
Dear M Sullivan,

Northern Irish policy is not really my specialism, but I will give you as clear an idea as possible.

The two major parties in parliament are Labour, the major centre-left party that is in government at the moment, and the Conservatives who are a centre-right party and the main opposition party at the moment.

Northern Ireland is a very complicated policy area and it is difficult to sum things up for you in a pithy format. Basically both parties agree with the Good Friday Agreement that was brokered just before Easter 1999 and ratified by referenda in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, later that year. The parties, however, disagree over specific issues to do with the implementation of the agreement.

To find out more you are best advised to contact the parties directly. There websites are:
www.labour.org.uk
and
www.conservatives.com

I hope this helps.

Best wishes,

Wesley