- Title: NORTHERN IRELAND: CABINET MINISTER RESIGNS OVER ONE-MAN ONE-VOTE DECISION
- Date: 23rd April 1969
- Summary: 1. LV & MV STORMONT EXTERIOR 0.11 2. MV REPORTER AND CHICHESTER-CLARK - (IN CUE) 1.07 3. MV STORMONT COAT OF ARMS 1.10 4. MV BRIAN FAULKNER - IN CUE: 1.45 5. LV STORMONT 1.50 TRANSCRIPT SEQ 4: INTERVIEWER: "MAJOR CHICHESTER CLARK WHY HAVE YOU RESIGNED?" CHICHESTER-CLARK" "I'VE RESIGNED NOT BECAUSE I DISAPPROVE OF THE PRINCIPLE OF ONE MAN ONE VOTE, INDEED I THINK THAT IT IS BOUND TO COME AND I THINK IT WILL COME, AND I THINK IT OUGHT TO COME. I HAVE PURELY RESIGNED ON A QUESTION OF TIMING. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE MOMENT WHEN THIS PARTICULAR CONCESSION SHOULD BE GIVEN. INTERVIEWER: "WHY NOT?" CHICHESTER-CLARK: "PURELY AND SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TOLD NO LATER THAN YESTERDAY THAT EVEN IF WE GIVE IN THIS ISN'T GOING TO TAKE PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS. AND SECONDLY BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED LEST IT HAS A REACTION ON THE SO-CALLED MILITANT PROTESTANT AND PROVOKES THEM INTO DOING SOMETHING VERY VIOLENT. THIS IS THE LAST THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN. INTERVIEWER: "WILL YOU NOW JOIN THOSE WHO OPPOSE CAPTAIN'S O'NEILL'S POLICIES?" CHICHESTER-CLARK: "CERTAINLY NOT". INTERVIEWER: "WILL YOU ACTIVELY SUPPORT HIS POLICIES?" CHICHESTER-CLARK: "AS LONG AS HE DOES WHAT I CONSIDER IS THE RIGHT AND PROPER THING AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIONIST POLICY, THEN I WILL SUPPORT HIM". INTERVIEWER: "MR. FAULKNER, WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF TODAY'S VOTE?" FAULKNER: "OH. IT WAS AN UNSATISFACTORY STATE OF AFFAIRS BECAUSE IT WASN'T REALLY A VOTE ON THE QUESTION OF ONE-MAN ONE-VOTE. THIS IS WHAT WE CAME TO DISCUSS, BUT IN FACT THE IMPLICATIONS OF IT HAVE NEVER BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PARLIAMENTARY PARTY AND TODAY'S VOTE REALLY BECAME A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE PRIME MINISTER. HE WANTED IT THAT WAY, HE MADE IT THAT WAY HIMSELF, AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS. AND IT'S NOT A SATISFACTORY STATE OF AFFAIRS INVOLVING AS IT DOES THE RESIGNATION OF ANOTHER MINISTER FROM THE GOVERNMENT. IT'S A FURTHER BREAK-UP OF THE ADMINISTRATION. Initials GL/V/CT/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 8th May 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND
- Country: Ireland
- Reuters ID: LVAAZM2P1VGHVZZ66TNZXJIBLQEY
- Story Text: NORTHERN IRELAND'S MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, MANOR JAMES CHICHESTER-CLARK, RESIGNED TODAY FOLLOWING A CRISIS MEETING OF THE PROVINCE'S RULING UNIONIST PARTY WHICH DECIDED BY 28 VOTES TO 22 TO ALLOW FULL VOTING RIGHTS IN LOCAL ELECTIONS TO THE CATHOLIC MINORITY.
THE PRIME MINISTER, CAPTAIN TERENCE O'NEILL, HAD EARLIER THREATENED TO RESIGN IF HE DID NOT GET THE GO-AHEAD FOR HIS PLANS TO REFORM THE FRANCHISE. AT PRESENT ONLY THE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE THE VOTE IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, A SYSTEM WHICH CATHOLICS CLAIM WORKS AGAINST THEM.
MR. BRIAN FAULKNER, WHO RESIGNED AS MINISTER OF COMMERCE TWO MONTHS AGO, AND IS WIDELY TIPPED AS A POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR TO CAPTAIN O'NEILL IF THERE IS A GOVERNMENT BREAKDOWN, ALSO SPOKE AGAINST THE DECISION. BUT BOTH MEN HAVE STATED THAT THEY ARE IN FAVOUR OF ONE-MAN ONE-VOTE IN PRINCIPLE.
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