Ivan Neill
MP | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland | |
| In office 1969–1972 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | James Chichester-Clark Terence O'Neill |
| Preceded by | Jack Andrews |
| Succeeded by | Herbert Kirk |
| Minister of Education | |
| In office 12 March 1962 – 22 July 1964 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | The 1st Viscount Brookeborough |
| Preceded by | William May |
| Succeeded by | Herbert Kirk |
| Minister of Labour | |
| In office 12 January 1950 – 12 March 1962 | |
| Monarchs | George VI Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Sir Basil Brooke |
| Preceded by | Harry Midgley |
| Succeeded by | Herbert Kirk |
| Member of Parliament for Ballynafeigh | |
| In office 1949–1972 | |
| Preceded by | Frederick Thompson |
| Succeeded by | Parliament prorogued |
| Majority | 3,848 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 July 1906 The Queen's University of Belfast |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Economist, Army officer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Royal Engineers |
Sir Ivan Neill,
Early life
Born in
Political activity
In 1946, Neill was elected to Belfast Corporation as an Ulster Unionist Party member, and two years later, he became an alderman, serving until 1950. At the 1949 Northern Ireland general election, he was elected for Belfast Ballynafeigh. In January 1950, he was made Minister of Labour, and was appointed to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland.[1] In this post, he sometimes spoke against his Government's policy – for example, against the 1956 Rent Bill which permitted landlords to increase rents in order to improve properties, while in 1958 he was rebuked for making a critical speech on economic policy.[3]
He held the post until 1962, when he became
In 1964, Neill again took a seat as an alderman on Belfast Corporation, this time serving for six years. In December 1968, he returned to the Government as Minister of Development, then in March 1969, he was elected as the Speaker of the House of Commons.[1]
The Official Irish Republican Army attempted to kidnap Neill from his house near Rostrevor, in October 1971. They were unsuccessful, but in December, his house was burnt down in an arson attack.[2]
The Parliament was prorogued in 1972. In March 1973, the
Personal life
Neill was married to Margaret with whom he had no children.
In 1995, Neill wrote an autobiography, Church and State. In this, he called on unionists to put aside their differences.[2][3]
He was a frequent visitor to his local
References
- ^ a b c d e Biographies of Members of the Northern Ireland House of Commons
- ^ a b c d "Obituary – Sir Ivan Neill", Belfast Telegraph, 7 November 2001
- ^ a b c Graham Walker, A History of the Ulster Unionist Party
- ^ Michael Kennedy, Division and Consensus
- ^ {{UK SI | year = 1973| number = 1321 | section = 2 | url = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1973/1321/contents/made | title = The Mr. Speaker Neill's Retirement (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 | made = 27 July 1973 | force = 3 August 1973|}