MacBride and the British Government
MacBride and the British Government
This chapter argues that the Conservative government's campaign against the MacBride Principles, orchestrated by the Northern Ireland Department of Economic Development (DED), was flawed. From the beginning it sought to smear the MacBride supporters by association with Provisional Sinn Féin. This approach failed to influence most Irish-Americans and it was later referred to en passant rather than as a major argument. The attitude of UK officials in the US to Irish-Americans generally, and MacBride campaigners in particular, was often arrogant and patronising. The UK response lacked generosity of spirit and imagination, which led to a complete misreading of the Irish-American scene, to the detriment of its overall Irish policy.
Keywords: MacBride Principles, employment discrimination, religious discrimination, employment policy, Conservative government
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