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{{short description|Member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom}}
The '''Secretary of State for Northern Ireland''' is the British ] minister who has responsibility for the government of ].
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2008}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = {{small|]}}<br> Secretary of State for<br/> Northern Ireland
| nativename =
| insignia = Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg
| insigniacaption = ] of ]
| image = File:Hilary Benn Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (crop 1).jpg
| incumbent = ]
| incumbentsince = 5 July 2024
| style = '''Northern Ireland Secretary'''<br />{{small|(informal)}}<br />]<br />{{small|(within the UK and Commonwealth)}}
| type = ]
| status = ]
| member_of = {{ubl|]|]}}
| reports_to = ]
| seat = ]
| nominator = The Prime Minister
| appointer = ]
| appointer_qualified = {{small|(on the advice of the ])}}
| termlength = ]
| formation = 24 March 1972
| first = ]
| salary = £159,038 per annum {{small|(2022)}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Salaries of Members of His Majesty's Government – Financial Year 2022–23 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1124173/2022-12-07-Ministerial-Salaries-22-23-table.pdf |date=15 December 2022}}</ref><br />(including £86,584 ] salary)<ref>{{cite web |title=Pay and expenses for MPs |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/pay-mps/ |access-date=15 December 2022 |website=parliament.uk}}</ref>
| residence = ]
| precursor = ]<br />]
| deputy = ]
| website = {{url|www.nio.gov.uk}}
}}
{{Politics of Northern Ireland}}
{{PoliticsUK}}


The '''secretary of state for Northern Ireland''' ({{langx|ga|Rúnaí Stáit Thuaisceart Éireann}}; {{langx|sco|Secretar o State for Norlin Airlan}}),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/sites/northsouthministerialcouncil.org/files/publications/nsmc_2008_annual_report_ulster_scots-6.pdf |title=2008 ANNUAL REPORT North South Council o Ministers |access-date=18 September 2021 |archive-date=11 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211055402/https://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/sites/northsouthministerialcouncil.org/files/publications/nsmc_2008_annual_report_ulster_scots-6.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dfa.ie/ie/nuacht-agus-na-meain/preasraitis/press-release-archive/2012/nov/runai-stait-thuaisceart-eireann/buaileann-an-tanaiste-le-runai-stait-thuaisceart-eireann-an-feisire-theresa-villiers.php |title=Buaileann an Tánaiste le Rúnaí Stáit Thuaisceart Éireann – Buaileann an Tánaiste le Rúnaí Stáit Thuaisceart Éireann, an Feisire Theresa Villiers – Department of Foreign Affairs |website=www.dfa.ie |access-date=18 September 2021 |archive-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011174611/https://www.dfa.ie/ie/nuacht-agus-na-meain/preasraitis/press-release-archive/2012/nov/runai-stait-thuaisceart-eireann/buaileann-an-tanaiste-le-runai-stait-thuaisceart-eireann-an-feisire-theresa-villiers.php |url-status=live}}</ref> also referred to as '''Northern Ireland Secretary''' or '''SoSNI''', is a ] in the ], with overall responsibility for the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Secretary of State for Northern Ireland |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-northern-ireland |url-status=live |website=] |access-date=30 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101022605/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-northern-ireland |archive-date=1 November 2020}}</ref> The officeholder is a member of the ]. The incumbent secretary of state for Northern Ireland is ].
The office was created following the suspension, then abolition, of the ] ] in 1972, following widespread civil strife. The post of ''Secretary of State'' in effect fills two roles under the previous Stormont regime; the nominal head of the Northern Ireland executive, the ] (the representative of Queen ]) and the ]. The Secretary of State resides in ], the previous residence of the Governor and the Queen's official residence in ].


The officeholder works alongside the other ]. The corresponding ] is the ].
Power was devolved back to Northern Ireland on ], ] to the Northern Ireland Assembly under ], but this administration collapsed on ] after a widespread strike organised by the ] ], who refused to countenance the power-sharing and All-] aspects of the new administation. In ] a second Northern Ireland Assembly was established with the hope that it would eventually assume power, but this Assembly was prorogued shortly after the ].


==History==
Under the ] (also called the ''Good Friday Agreement''), the ] was established. In ] the new coalition government was established, consisting of a ], a ] and an inter-party cabinet. The coalition consisted of members of four parties:
Historically, the principal ministers for Irish (and subsequently ]) affairs in the ] and its predecessors were:
* the ] ({{circa}} 1171–1922);
* the ] (1560–1922); and
* the ] (1922–1972).<ref>{{cite web |title=Home Office |url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=1&CATID=150&SearchInit=4&SearchType=6&CATREF=HO#admin |work=National Archives Catalogue |publisher=National Archives |access-date=15 October 2011 |archive-date=3 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703025005/http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=1&CATID=150&SearchInit=4&SearchType=6&CATREF=ho#admin |url-status=live}}</ref>


In August 1969, for example, ] ] approved the sending of ] soldiers to Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite web |last=Melaugh |first=Martin |title=The Deployment of British Troops – 14 August 1969 |url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/troops/index.html |work=Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN) |publisher=] |access-date=15 October 2011 |archive-date=27 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827152936/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/troops/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Scotland and Wales were represented by the roles of ] and ] from 1885 and 1964 respectively, but Northern Ireland remained separate, owing to the devolved ] and ].
* ] (UUP)
* ] (SDLP)
* ] (DUP) ''(DUP ministers worked in their departments but refused to sit at Executive Committee meetings, because of the presence of Sinn Féin ministers.
* ]


The office of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland was created after the Northern Ireland government (at ]) was first suspended and then abolished following widespread civil strife. The British government was increasingly concerned that Stormont was losing control of the situation. On 30 March 1972, direct rule from ] was introduced.<ref>{{cite web |last=Melaugh |first=Martin |title=A Chronology of the Conflict – 1972 |url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch72.htm |work=Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN) |publisher=University of Ulster |access-date=15 October 2011 |archive-date=5 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305015858/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch72.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> The secretary of state filled three roles which existed under the previous Stormont regime:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1972/22/pdfs/ukpga_19720022_en.pdf |title=Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972 |work=legislation.gov.uk |access-date=16 October 2011 |archive-date=2 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202123022/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1972/22/pdfs/ukpga_19720022_en.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>
The devolved administration had several times to be suspended because the Ulster Unionists were uncomfortable being in government with Sinn Féin. The failure of the ] to complete decommissioning within a period specified in the Good Friday Agreement for decommissioning of all paramilitary weapons led to threats from the Ulster Unionists to withdraw completely, despite the fact that ] paramilitaries also retained their weapons and continued killing ]s and each other. From ] the Executive and Assembly were suspended after allegations of an ] spy ring operating in ]. The responsibilities of the ministers in the Executive are currently exercised by British ministers answerable to the Secretary of State. The Secretary and his ministers are responsible only to ] and not to the Assembly.
* the ] (the nominal head of the executive and representative of the ])
* the ] (in the present day, a role filled by the ] and ] acting jointly)
* the ] (in the present day, a role filled by the ]).


Direct rule was seen as a temporary measure, with a power-sharing devolution preferred as the solution, and was annually renewed by a vote in Parliament.
==Secretaries of State (1972- present)==


The ] in 1973 resulted in the brief existence of a power-sharing ] from 1 January 1974, which was ended by the ] ] on 28 May 1974. The strikers opposed the power-sharing and ] aspects of the new administration.
* ] (], ] - ], ])

* ] (], ] - ], ])
The ] (1975–1976) and ] (1982–1986) were unsuccessful in restoring devolved government. After the ] on 15 November 1985, the UK Government and Irish Government co-operated more closely on security and political matters.
* ] (], ] - ], ])

* ] (], ] - ], ])
Following the ] (also known as the Good Friday Agreement) on 10 April 1998, devolution returned to Northern Ireland on 2 December 1999. This removed many of the duties of the secretary of state and his Northern Ireland Office colleagues and devolved them to those locally elected politicians who constitute the ].
* ] (], ] - ], ])

* ] (], ] - ], ])
Formerly holding a large portfolio over ] in Northern Ireland, the current ] has lessened the secretary of state's role, granting many of the former powers to the ] and Northern Ireland Executive. The secretary of state is now generally limited to representing Northern Ireland in the ], overseeing the operation of the devolved administration and a number of ] which remain the sole competence of the UK Government e.g. ], ], certain public inquiries and the administration of elections.<ref>{{cite web|title=Northern Ireland Office // About the NIO|url=http://www.nio.gov.uk/index/about-the-nio.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917112740/http://www.nio.gov.uk/index/about-the-nio.htm|archive-date=17 September 2010|access-date=19 June 2010}}</ref>
* ] (], ] - ], ])

* ] (], ] - ], ])
Created in 1972, the position has switched between members of Parliament from the ] and ]. As Labour has not fielded candidates in Northern Ireland, and the Conservatives have not had candidates elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly or for ] seats in the region, those appointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland have not represented a constituency in Northern Ireland. This contrasts with the secretaries of state for Scotland and Wales.
* ] (], ] - ], ])

* Sir ] (], ] - ], ])
The secretary of state officially resides in ], which was previously the official residence of the ], and remains the ] of the ] in Northern Ireland. The secretary of state exercises their duties through, and is administratively supported by, the ] (NIO).
* ] (], ] - ], ])

* ] (], ] - ], ]) (Resigned)
The devolved administration was suspended several times (especially between 15 October 2002 and 8 May 2007) because the ] and ] were uncomfortable being in government with ] when the ] had failed to decommission its arms fully and continued its criminal activities. On each of these occasions, the responsibilities of the ministers in the Executive then returned to the secretary of state and his ministers. During these periods, in addition to administration of the region, the secretary of state was also heavily involved in the negotiations with all parties to restore devolved government.
* ] (], ] - ], ])

* ] (], ] - ], ])
Power was again devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 8 May 2007. The secretary of state retained responsibility for policing and justice until most of those powers were devolved on 12 April 2010.<ref>{{cite web |last=Simpson |first=Mark |title=New era for policing and justice in Northern Ireland |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8613253.stm |url-status=live |publisher=] |date=12 April 2010 |access-date=11 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415064647/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8613253.stm |archive-date=15 April 2010}}</ref> Robert Hazell has suggested merging the offices of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for Scotland and for Wales into one secretary of state for the Union,<ref>{{cite news |title=Times letters: Mark Sedwill's call for a cull of the cabinet |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/times-letters-mark-sedwills-call-for-a-cull-of-the-cabinet-6x2kgqdhc |url-status=live |newspaper=] |date=30 July 2020 |access-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809184325/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/times-letters-mark-sedwills-call-for-a-cull-of-the-cabinet-6x2kgqdhc |archive-date=9 August 2020 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> in a department into which ] has suggested adding a minister of state for England with responsibility for ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rodney Brazier: Why is Her Majesty's Government so big? |url=https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2020/09/07/rodney-brazier-why-is-her-majestys-government-so-big/ |url-status=live |publisher=UK Constitutional Law Association |date=7 September 2020 |access-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129042035/https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2020/09/07/rodney-brazier-why-is-her-majestys-government-so-big/ |archive-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
* ] (], ] - )

== List of secretaries of state for Northern Ireland ==
'''Colour key'''<br/>
{{Legend2|{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{Legend2|{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | Secretary of state
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Party
! colspan=2 | Prime Minister

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 24 March 1972
| 2 December 1973
| ]
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 2 December 1973
| 4 March 1974
| ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 5 March 1974
| 10 September 1976
| ]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 10 September 1976
| 4 May 1979
| ]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 5 May 1979
| 14 September 1981
| ]
| rowspan=5 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=5 | ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ] (until 1983)<br/>MP for ] (from 1983)}}
| 14 September 1981
| 11 September 1984
| ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 11 September 1984
| 3 September 1985
| ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 3 September 1985
| 24 July 1989
| ]
|-
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | ]
| rowspan=2 | ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| rowspan=2 | 24 July 1989
| rowspan=2 | 10 April 1992
| rowspan=2 | ]
|-
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 10 April 1992
| 2 May 1997
| ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 3 May 1997
| 11 October 1999
| ]
| rowspan=5 style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=5 | ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 11 October 1999
| 24 January 2001
| ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 25 January 2001
| 24 October 2002
| ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 24 October 2002
| 6 May 2005
| ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}<br/>{{Small|''(also ])''}}
| 6 May 2005
| 28 June 2007
| ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 28 June 2007
| 11 May 2010
| ]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 12 May 2010
| ]
| ]
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | ]<br/>{{Small|(])}}

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | ]
| rowspan=2 | ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| rowspan=2 | ]
| rowspan=2 | 14 July 2016
| rowspan=2 | ]
|-
| ]<br/>{{Small|(])}}

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | ]
| rowspan=2 | ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| rowspan=2 | 14 July 2016
| rowspan=2 | ]
| rowspan=2 | ]
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]<br/>{{Small|(])}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | ]<br/>{{Small|(])}}

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| ]
| 24 July 2019
| ]

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | ]
| rowspan=2 | ''']'''<br/>{{Small| MP for ]}}
| rowspan=2 | 24 July 2019
| rowspan=2 | ]
| rowspan=2 | ]
| rowspan=4 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]<br/>{{Small|(])}}
|-
| rowspan=3 | ]<br/>{{Small|(])}}

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small| MP for ]}}
| ]
| ]
| ]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small| MP for ]}}
| ]
| 6 September 2022
| ]

|-
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | ]
| rowspan=2 | ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| rowspan=2 | 6 September 2022
| rowspan=2 | 5 July 2024
| rowspan=2 | ]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]<br/>{{Small|(])}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]<br/>{{Small|(])}}

|-
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| ''']'''<br/>{{Small|MP for ]}}
| 5 July 2024
| ''Incumbent''
| ]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| ]<br/>{{Small|(])}}

|}

== Timeline ==
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==See also== ==See also==
* ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ], office that existed until 1922
* ], office that existed from 1922 to 1973

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

{{Northern Ireland Office}}
{{Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland}}
{{Cabinet positions in the United Kingdom}}


] ]
] ]
]
]

Latest revision as of 09:57, 6 November 2024

Member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom

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United Kingdom
Secretary of State for
Northern Ireland
Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Incumbent
Hilary Benn
since 5 July 2024
StyleNorthern Ireland Secretary
(informal)
The Right Honourable
(within the UK and Commonwealth)
TypeMinister of the Crown
StatusSecretary of State
Member of
Reports toThe Prime Minister
ResidenceHillsborough Castle
SeatWestminster
NominatorThe Prime Minister
AppointerThe Monarch
(on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
PrecursorLord Lieutenant of Ireland
Governor of Northern Ireland
Formation24 March 1972
First holderWilliam Whitelaw
DeputyMinister of State for Northern Ireland
Salary£159,038 per annum (2022)
(including £86,584 MP salary)
Websitewww.nio.gov.uk
This article is part of a series within the
Politics of the United Kingdom on the
Politics of Northern Ireland
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The secretary of state for Northern Ireland (Irish: Rúnaí Stáit Thuaisceart Éireann; Scots: Secretar o State for Norlin Airlan), also referred to as Northern Ireland Secretary or SoSNI, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the Northern Ireland Office. The officeholder is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The incumbent secretary of state for Northern Ireland is Hilary Benn.

The officeholder works alongside the other Northern Ireland Office ministers. The corresponding shadow minister is the shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland.

History

Historically, the principal ministers for Irish (and subsequently Northern Ireland) affairs in the UK Government and its predecessors were:

In August 1969, for example, Home Secretary James Callaghan approved the sending of British Army soldiers to Northern Ireland. Scotland and Wales were represented by the roles of Secretary of State for Scotland and Secretary of State for Wales from 1885 and 1964 respectively, but Northern Ireland remained separate, owing to the devolved Government of Northern Ireland and Parliament of Northern Ireland.

The office of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland was created after the Northern Ireland government (at Stormont) was first suspended and then abolished following widespread civil strife. The British government was increasingly concerned that Stormont was losing control of the situation. On 30 March 1972, direct rule from Westminster was introduced. The secretary of state filled three roles which existed under the previous Stormont regime:

Direct rule was seen as a temporary measure, with a power-sharing devolution preferred as the solution, and was annually renewed by a vote in Parliament.

The Sunningdale Agreement in 1973 resulted in the brief existence of a power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive from 1 January 1974, which was ended by the loyalist Ulster Workers' Council strike on 28 May 1974. The strikers opposed the power-sharing and all-Ireland aspects of the new administration.

The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention (1975–1976) and Northern Ireland Assembly (1982–1986) were unsuccessful in restoring devolved government. After the Anglo-Irish Agreement on 15 November 1985, the UK Government and Irish Government co-operated more closely on security and political matters.

Following the Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement) on 10 April 1998, devolution returned to Northern Ireland on 2 December 1999. This removed many of the duties of the secretary of state and his Northern Ireland Office colleagues and devolved them to those locally elected politicians who constitute the Northern Ireland Executive.

Formerly holding a large portfolio over home affairs in Northern Ireland, the current devolution settlement has lessened the secretary of state's role, granting many of the former powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive. The secretary of state is now generally limited to representing Northern Ireland in the UK cabinet, overseeing the operation of the devolved administration and a number of reserved and excepted matters which remain the sole competence of the UK Government e.g. security, human rights, certain public inquiries and the administration of elections.

Created in 1972, the position has switched between members of Parliament from the Conservative Party and Labour Party. As Labour has not fielded candidates in Northern Ireland, and the Conservatives have not had candidates elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly or for House of Commons seats in the region, those appointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland have not represented a constituency in Northern Ireland. This contrasts with the secretaries of state for Scotland and Wales.

The secretary of state officially resides in Hillsborough Castle, which was previously the official residence of the governor of Northern Ireland, and remains the royal residence of the monarch in Northern Ireland. The secretary of state exercises their duties through, and is administratively supported by, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).

The devolved administration was suspended several times (especially between 15 October 2002 and 8 May 2007) because the Ulster Unionist Party and Democratic Unionist Party were uncomfortable being in government with Sinn Féin when the Provisional Irish Republican Army had failed to decommission its arms fully and continued its criminal activities. On each of these occasions, the responsibilities of the ministers in the Executive then returned to the secretary of state and his ministers. During these periods, in addition to administration of the region, the secretary of state was also heavily involved in the negotiations with all parties to restore devolved government.

Power was again devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 8 May 2007. The secretary of state retained responsibility for policing and justice until most of those powers were devolved on 12 April 2010. Robert Hazell has suggested merging the offices of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for Scotland and for Wales into one secretary of state for the Union, in a department into which Rodney Brazier has suggested adding a minister of state for England with responsibility for English local government.

List of secretaries of state for Northern Ireland

Colour key
  Conservative   Labour

Secretary of state Term of office Party Prime Minister
William Whitelaw
MP for Penrith and The Border 		24 March 1972 2 December 1973 Conservative Edward Heath
Francis Pym
MP for Cambridgeshire 		2 December 1973 4 March 1974 Conservative
Merlyn Rees
MP for Leeds South 		5 March 1974 10 September 1976 Labour Harold Wilson
Roy Mason
MP for Barnsley 		10 September 1976 4 May 1979 Labour James Callaghan
Humphrey Atkins
MP for Spelthorne 		5 May 1979 14 September 1981 Conservative Margaret Thatcher
Jim Prior
MP for Lowestoft (until 1983)
MP for Waveney (from 1983) 		14 September 1981 11 September 1984 Conservative
Douglas Hurd
MP for Witney 		11 September 1984 3 September 1985 Conservative
Tom King
MP for Bridgwater 		3 September 1985 24 July 1989 Conservative
Peter Brooke
MP for Cities of London
and Westminster South 		24 July 1989 10 April 1992 Conservative
John Major
Patrick Mayhew
MP for Tunbridge Wells 		10 April 1992 2 May 1997 Conservative
Mo Mowlam
MP for Redcar 		3 May 1997 11 October 1999 Labour Tony Blair
Peter Mandelson
MP for Hartlepool 		11 October 1999 24 January 2001 Labour
John Reid
MP for Hamilton North and Bellshill 		25 January 2001 24 October 2002 Labour
Paul Murphy
MP for Torfaen 		24 October 2002 6 May 2005 Labour
Peter Hain
MP for Neath
(also Welsh Secretary) 		6 May 2005 28 June 2007 Labour
Shaun Woodward
MP for St Helens South 		28 June 2007 11 May 2010 Labour Gordon Brown
Owen Paterson
MP for North Shropshire 		12 May 2010 4 September 2012 Conservative David Cameron
(Coalition)
Theresa Villiers
MP for Chipping Barnet 		4 September 2012 14 July 2016 Conservative
David Cameron
(II)
James Brokenshire
MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup 		14 July 2016 8 January 2018 Conservative Theresa May
(I)
Theresa May
(II)
Karen Bradley
MP for Staffordshire Moorlands 		8 January 2018 24 July 2019 Conservative
Julian Smith
MP for Skipton and Ripon 		24 July 2019 13 February 2020 Conservative Boris Johnson
(I)
Boris Johnson
(II)
Brandon Lewis
MP for Great Yarmouth 		13 February 2020 7 July 2022 Conservative
Shailesh Vara
MP for North West Cambridgeshire 		7 July 2022 6 September 2022 Conservative
Chris Heaton-Harris
MP for Daventry 		6 September 2022 5 July 2024 Conservative Liz Truss
(I)
Rishi Sunak
(I)
Hilary Benn
MP for Leeds South 		5 July 2024 Incumbent Labour Keir Starmer
(I)

Timeline

Hilary BennChris Heaton-HarrisShailesh VaraBrandon LewisJulian Smith (politician)Karen BradleyJames BrokenshireTheresa VilliersOwen PatersonShaun WoodwardPeter HainPaul Murphy, Baron Murphy of TorfaenJohn Reid, Baron Reid of CardowanPeter MandelsonMo MowlamPatrick MayhewPeter Brooke, Baron Brooke of Sutton MandevilleTom KingDouglas HurdJim PriorHumphrey AtkinsRoy MasonMerlyn ReesFrancis PymWilliam Whitelaw

See also

Notes

  1. "Salaries of Members of His Majesty's Government – Financial Year 2022–23" (PDF). 15 December 2022.
  2. "Pay and expenses for MPs". parliament.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  3. "2008 ANNUAL REPORT North South Council o Ministers" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  4. "Buaileann an Tánaiste le Rúnaí Stáit Thuaisceart Éireann – Buaileann an Tánaiste le Rúnaí Stáit Thuaisceart Éireann, an Feisire Theresa Villiers – Department of Foreign Affairs". www.dfa.ie. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  5. "Secretary of State for Northern Ireland". gov.uk. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  6. "Home Office". National Archives Catalogue. National Archives. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  7. Melaugh, Martin. "The Deployment of British Troops – 14 August 1969". Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN). University of Ulster. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  8. Melaugh, Martin. "A Chronology of the Conflict – 1972". Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN). University of Ulster. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  9. "Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 December 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  10. "Northern Ireland Office // About the NIO". Archived from the original on 17 September 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  11. Simpson, Mark (12 April 2010). "New era for policing and justice in Northern Ireland". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 April 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  12. "Times letters: Mark Sedwill's call for a cull of the cabinet". The Times. 30 July 2020. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  13. "Rodney Brazier: Why is Her Majesty's Government so big?". UK Constitutional Law Association. 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
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