May 3, 2016
Cartoon for academic and political commentator David McCann. Will be used on the front of his book.
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Cartoon for academic and political commentator David McCann. Will be used on the front of his book.
Having arrived at this House at the latter end of last week and having listened to the speeches made by hon. Members, from both sides, I marvel at the normality which exists in British politics. Serious questions are discussed. It has become apparent to me this afternoon that education will be an issue of great importance .’during the lifetime of this Parliament. All hon. Members can apply their intellect and wisdom to achieving an education solution: , This atmosphere does not exist iii the constituency which I represent. I In Northern Ireland, at every succeeding election there re no economic issues involved. In this island of Britain, the recent election was fought on the different policies and philosophies of the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and the Labour Party, and the Labour Party were victorious. In Northern Ireland, no such issues entered the contest.
Gerry Fitt, Maiden speech to House of Commons, April 25 1966 (Here: http://www.nicivilrights.org/historical-documents/gerry-fitt%E2%80%99s-maiden-speech-at-westminster-on-25-april-1966/)
I am not asking for preferential treatment, or making an outlandish request on behalf of my constituency ; I am asking for exactly what British constituents have.
Gerry Fitt, Maiden speech to House of Commons, April 25 1966 (Here: http://www.nicivilrights.org/historical-documents/gerry-fitt%E2%80%99s-maiden-speech-at-westminster-on-25-april-1966/)
In Britain everyone over the age of 21 has the vote, but this is not so in Northern Ireland. I insist that Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom. The people there are British subjects and are entitled to the same rights and privileges as are possessed by any other persons living in these islands. To perpetuate its own majority the Unionist Party in Northern Ireland has devised an electoral system which for local government purposes can give six votes to one person and yet deny a single vote to another. This is 1966, and if true democracy is to operate in these islands it is time that the procedure in ‘Northern Ireland was abolished. Not only does it deny a vote to a person who does not own a home; from this root stems all the other social evils. If a Person does not own a home he does not have a local government vote, and if the Party In Power considers him to be an enemy or an anti Unionist it will ensure that he will not get a home.
Gerry Fitt, Maiden speech to House of Commons, April 25 1966 (Here: http://www.nicivilrights.org/historical-documents/gerry-fitt%E2%80%99s-maiden-speech-at-westminster-on-25-april-1966/)
In 1949 the British Labour Goverument – and they had the support of many progressive members of the Tory party – changed the electoral law and brought in the Representation of the People Act. That established the democratic principle of “one man, one vote “, with ,which I am in complete concurrence. It is a fair system; it is the only democratic system which should be applied in these islands. But in Northern Ireland that system operates only in respect of the 12 constituencies represented in this House. For other elections in Northern Ireland – for local government elections and elections to the Stormont Parliament – we have an anti-democratic electoral system. This system would not be tolerated in any other freedom-loving country. In Northern Ireland the same people are elected to administer the different Acts, the one applicable in Northern Ireland and the one applicable for Imperial elections. Can we expect these same people to administer their own electoral laws, on the one hand, and then to wear a different hat and administer the 1949 Representation of the People Act? The first aim of the Northern Ireland Unionist Parry is to perpetuate its own existence there. Let there be no mistake about that.
Gerry Fitt, Maiden speech to House of Lords, April 25 1966 (Here: http://www.nicivilrights.org/historical-documents/gerry-fitt%E2%80%99s-maiden-speech-at-westminster-on-25-april-1966/)
The changing social conditions over the past 50 years make the Government of Ireland Act completely unworkable. When we realise how every concept of British democracy is being flouted in Northern Ireland we conclude that now, immediately is the time to amend that Act.
Gerry Fitt, Maiden speech to House of Commons, April 25 1966 (Here: http://www.nicivilrights.org/historical-documents/gerry-fitt%E2%80%99s-maiden-speech-at-westminster-on-25-april-1966/)
Gerry Fitt identified the "Achilles heel" of unionism in its professed devotion to British standards of fairness and equality
Deaglan De Breadun wrote in 2005 in the Irish Times: "The unionist "stranglehold" on power seemed unbreakable - "but not to Gerry". He identified the "Achilles heel" of unionism in its professed devotion to British standards of fairness and equality, which were not applied to the minority in Northern Ireland." See here: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/gerry-fitt-s-history-making-achievements-recalled-at-funeral-1.486842