Jim Molyneaux RIP
James Molyneaux, Lord Molyneaux of Killead, former leader of the Official Ulster Unionists, has died at the age of 94.
During World War II he was one of the first British soldiers to see the recently liberated Belsen concentration camp in Germany.
He became involved in politics in 1946 shortly after he left the army following the war, and his career as a parliamentarian lasted more than three decades. He was one of the longest-serving leaders of the UUP from 1979 to 1995.
He was also a gentleman of the old school who would do things because he thought they were right rather than judging what political advantage he could gain from everything.
I will never forget the accounts both John Major and Jim Molyneaux gave of the circumstances in which he led the Ulster Unionists in supporting Major's government in a difficult vote in the 90's: he deserves credit which he is not usually given for the fact that we still have the pound rather than having made the ghastly mistake of going into the Euro.
I'm going to put the explanation of that view into a separate post to avoid turning an obit meant as a tribute to Jim into a political argument. If you disagree with my views about Maastricht feel free to use the comments thread on that post to say so. This one is reserved for tributes to him.
What I think is particularly relevant in terms of what the Maastricht vote is says about Jim Molyneaux is that
1) When several groups within Westminster were playing all sorts of games which included voting for the exact opposite of what they actually wanted to get in the hope that the treaty ratification, the government or both would collapse, Jim decided that the country's interests were best served by he and his party avoiding such games and voting on each amendment and bill based on what they actually thought was right for Britain and their constituents.
2) At a time when some governments would have been willing to pay a high pork barrel price for those votes, Jim Molyneaux simply told the Prime Minister how his party would be voting, and did not ask for anything in exchange. Doubtless he hoped that his party would be rewarded for his integrity.
I think politics in Britain would be healthier if there were more politicians like Jim Molyneaux.
Rest in Peace.
During World War II he was one of the first British soldiers to see the recently liberated Belsen concentration camp in Germany.
He became involved in politics in 1946 shortly after he left the army following the war, and his career as a parliamentarian lasted more than three decades. He was one of the longest-serving leaders of the UUP from 1979 to 1995.
He was also a gentleman of the old school who would do things because he thought they were right rather than judging what political advantage he could gain from everything.
I will never forget the accounts both John Major and Jim Molyneaux gave of the circumstances in which he led the Ulster Unionists in supporting Major's government in a difficult vote in the 90's: he deserves credit which he is not usually given for the fact that we still have the pound rather than having made the ghastly mistake of going into the Euro.
I'm going to put the explanation of that view into a separate post to avoid turning an obit meant as a tribute to Jim into a political argument. If you disagree with my views about Maastricht feel free to use the comments thread on that post to say so. This one is reserved for tributes to him.
What I think is particularly relevant in terms of what the Maastricht vote is says about Jim Molyneaux is that
1) When several groups within Westminster were playing all sorts of games which included voting for the exact opposite of what they actually wanted to get in the hope that the treaty ratification, the government or both would collapse, Jim decided that the country's interests were best served by he and his party avoiding such games and voting on each amendment and bill based on what they actually thought was right for Britain and their constituents.
2) At a time when some governments would have been willing to pay a high pork barrel price for those votes, Jim Molyneaux simply told the Prime Minister how his party would be voting, and did not ask for anything in exchange. Doubtless he hoped that his party would be rewarded for his integrity.
I think politics in Britain would be healthier if there were more politicians like Jim Molyneaux.
Rest in Peace.
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