A Question of Containment, 1923–49: Britain, the two Irelands and the Commonwealth

Abstract

The Irish settlement of 1921 changed the form, and, in part, the substance of the Irish Question, and more particularly of the Irish Question in British politics. It was now, perhaps, an Irish Question for, rather than in, British politics. No longer was it a struggle between Irish nationalists and British Unionists over self-government or its denial; no longer was it shaped by an alliance between Irish Nationalists and British Liberals, and between Irish Unionists (north and south) and Unionists in Britain. This termination of old party ties naturally had an impact on new party images, as the Irish flavour of the British political parties quickly waned, and became residual. It was true that the official name of the Conservatives was still the ‘Conservative and Unionist Party’, and indeed the Primrose League continued to refer to the ‘Unionist Party’ during the 1920s. Lady Londonderry even lectured on the ‘Meaning of Unionism’, while acknowledging, however, that the original idea had ‘gone beyond recall’.¹ The Irish representation in the House of Commons was by the terms of the Government of Ireland Act reduced to a mere dozen seats and consisted almost entirely of Ulster Unionists.