Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Last updated

Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Official portrait of Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP.jpg
Incumbent
Hilary Benn
since 4 September 2023
Appointer Leader of the Opposition
Inaugural holder Merlyn Rees
Formation24 March 1972
Website The Shadow Cabinet

The Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is a member of the British Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and their department, the Northern Ireland Office. The post is currently held by Hilary Benn.

Contents

Until recently there had been a 'bi-partisan' attitude to Northern Ireland affairs in the House of Commons but the role is influenced by the relationship between the main Official Opposition and parties in the country. The Conservative Party, for example, generally supports the unionist cause and in 2008 re-formalised a (since ended) link with the Ulster Unionist Party and relied on the support of the Democratic Unionist Party until the 2019 United Kingdom General Election in the House of Commons, while Labour has traditionally supported Irish nationalism and is loosely allied to the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). The Liberal Democrats are linked with the cross-community Alliance Party.

Shadow Secretaries of State

NameEntered officeLeft officeLength of TermPolitical partyShadow Cabinet
Merlyn Rees Merlyn Rees appearing on After Dark , 16 July 1988 - (cropped).jpg 24 March 19724 March 19741 year, 345 daysLabour Harold Wilson
Francis Pym Francis Leslie Pym.jpg 4 March 197429 October 1974239 daysConservative 
 
Edward Heath
 
 
Ian Gilmour No image.svg 29 October 197418 February 1975112 days
 
Airey Neave
 
AireyNeave (cropped).jpg 18 February 197530 March 19794 years, 40 days
Edward Heath
Margaret Thatcher
Roy Mason No image.svg 4 May 197914 July 197971 daysLabour James Callaghan
Brynmor John No image.svg 14 July 19798 December 19801 year, 147 days
Don Concannon No image.svg 8 December 198031 October 19832 years, 327 days Michael Foot
Peter Archer No image.svg 31 October 198313 July 19873 years, 255 days 
Neil Kinnock
 
 
Kevin McNamara
 
No image.svg 13 July 198720 October 19947 years, 99 days
John Smith
Margaret Beckett
Mo Mowlam 20 October 19942 May 19972 years, 194 days Tony Blair
Andrew Mackay No image.svg 23 June 199714 September 20014 years, 83 daysConservative William Hague
Quentin Davies Lord Davies of Stamford 2015.jpg 14 September 200111 November 20032 years, 58 days Iain Duncan Smith
David Lidington Official portrait of Mr David Lidington crop 2.jpg 11 November 20032 July 20073 years, 233 days Michael Howard
David Cameron
Owen Paterson Official portrait of Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP crop 2.jpg 2 July 200711 May 20102 years, 313 days
Shaun Woodward Shaun Woodward, June 2009 cropped.jpg 11 May 20107 October 20111 year, 149 daysLabour Harriet Harman
Ed Miliband
Vernon Coaker Official portrait of Vernon Coaker crop 2.jpg 7 October 20117 October 20132 years, 0 days
Ivan Lewis Official portrait of Mr Ivan Lewis crop 2.jpg 7 October 201313 September 20151 year, 341 days
Ed Miliband
Harriet Harman
Vernon Coaker Official portrait of Vernon Coaker crop 2.jpg 13 September 2015 26 June 2016 287 days Jeremy Corbyn
Dave Anderson Dave Anderson MP outside his Blaydon office.jpg 26 June 2016 14 June 2017353 days
Owen Smith Official portrait of Owen Smith crop 2.jpg 14 June 201723 March 2018282 days
Tony Lloyd Official portrait of Tony Lloyd crop 2.jpg 23 March 20186 April 20202 years, 14 days
Louise Haigh Official portrait of Louise Haigh MP crop 2.jpg 6 April 2020 29 November 2021 1 year, 237 daysSir Keir Starmer
Peter Kyle Official portrait of Peter Kyle MP crop 2.jpg 29 November 2021 4 September 20231 year, 289 days
Hilary Benn Official portrait of Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP crop 2.jpg 4 September 2023Incumbent10 days

See also

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