Lord Brookeborough

• Basil Brooke became the 3 PM of Northern Ireland in 1943.^rd
• At this point the Unionists had a lot of strength due to Britain resenting the South for not being involved in the war.
• The British government argued that due to the Government of Ireland Act, that Stormont was responsible for how the North was run.
• At this point the North was the most disadvantaged area in the UK with unemployment at an all time high especially in agriculture.
• Numerous reforms were brought in which helped the situation.
• In Britain, Labour introduced the welfare state and agreed to subsidise the North.
• There were numerous reforms in Health (National Health Service), Education Act 1974(student who pass primary exams can go to university), National Insurance Scheme etc
• The government established the Northern Ireland Development Council in 1955 to promote new industries to help unemployment.
• In 1961 the Hall Committee produced a report on the economy saying that people should be encouraged to emigrate to Britain.
• More and more people called for Brookeborough to resign due to unemployment which he did on 23 March 1963

Terence O’Neill

• Previous Minister for Finance.
• Planned to defeat the Labour party in Northern Ireland who were gaining ground-focused on economy.
• He conducted three reports-Benson-close rails, Matthew-limit expansion to growth areas.
• Wilson Plan 1964-create a new city not west of Bann (Craigavon), invest £450 million on attracting foreign industry, build roads not in west of Bann and set up a second university.
• Success-attracted Goodyear, Dupont except it did not help the Catholic West of the Bann which created a lot of resentment.
• Tom Wilson-“A vicious circle could be seen with the violent expression of discontent leading to a further worsening of economic conditions.