William Whitelaw
William Whitelaw (1918-1999) was a leading Conservative politician who held cabinet posts including Northern Ireland Secretary and Home Secretary.[1]
Northern Ireland
Whitelaw served as Northern Ireland Secretary from 24 March 1972 to 2 December 1973.[2]
Whitelaw secretly met Provisional IRA leaders in abortive talks in London in July 1972. He presided over the introduction of special category status for paramilitary prisoners at around the same time. Subsequently, in the wake of the Bloody Friday bombings in Belfast, he approved the launch of Operation Motorman against 'no-go areas' in Belfast and Derry. [3]
He presided over negotiations on a new devolved system of government which led to the Sunningdale conference, which took place shortly after his replacement by Francis Pym.[4]
Notes
- ↑ Ian Aitken, Viscount Whitelaw of Penrith, The Guardian, 2 July 1999.
- ↑ David Butler and Gareth Butler, Twentieth Century British Political Facts 1900-2000, Macmillan, 2000, p.34.
- ↑ W.D Flackes, & Sydney Elliott, Northern Ireland: A Political Directory 1968-88, Blackstaff Press, 1989, p.292.
- ↑ W.D Flackes, & Sydney Elliott, Northern Ireland: A Political Directory 1968-88, Blackstaff Press, 1989, p.292.
