HC Deb 26 April 1977 vol 930 cc1030-2
Mr. Fitt

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the threat of a general strike in Northern Ireland next Monday called by the Ulster Unionist Action Council. Yesterday afternoon in Belfast, an organisation calling itself the Ulster Unionist Action Committee met. Among its members is a Member of this House, the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley). He, in collusion and alliance with other people in Northern Ireland, and some of those who formed the Ulster Unionist Action Committee are members of the Ulster Defence Association, which has the support of other organisations which are illegal.

Yesterday afternoon, the Ulster Unionist Action Committee issued an ultimatum to Her Majesty's Government. In this morning's newspapers in Northern Ireland, advertisements appeared to the effect that if Her Majesty's Government at Westminster did not comply with the demands which have been made by this organisation in relation to security, and which are allied to the demand that this Government and Parliament implement the Convention report discussed at the recent Northern Ireland Convention, it would call a general strike next Monday in Northern Ireland.

We have already had precedents for this type of action in the events which took place in 1974 and which brought about the downfall of the legally-elected Northern Ireland Executive at that time. Those of us living in Northern Ireland remember only too well the chaos, disruption, disgrace and despair then occasioned, and, from the threats that we have heard in the last few days, it would appear that a strike of exactly the same proportions, if not more severe, is threatened for next Monday.

This is a matter of the most urgent importance. The threat is an open defiance of the British Government and Parliament. It is Fascist in its purpose. I believe that the House should debate the matter so that everything entailed in this most dangerous situation can be discussed and if necessary the gauntlet thrown down by Fascists in Northern Ireland taken up by this democratic Parliament.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Belfast, West (Mr. Fitt) asks leave, under Standing Order No. 9, to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the threat of a general strike in Northern Ireland next Monday called by the Ulster Unionist Action Council". The hon. Gentleman was good enough to give me notice this morning of his intention. I have listened carefully to his submission. The strike is threatened for next Monday. It is at present a threat. I am directed by the House to take into account the various factors contained in Standing Order No. 9, and I have done so. I am afraid that I have to rule that the hon. Gentleman's submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order, and therefore I cannot submit his application to the House.