A CIVIL servant who went on to become a British ambassador attempted to get the secretary of state involved in a plan to remove Ulster Unionist leader Jim Molyneaux, previously classified files reveal.
David Blatherwick – who went on to become Sir David and served as British Ambassador to the United Nations, Ireland and Egypt during the late 1980s and 1990s – was an official at the NIO who in 1981 regularly liaised with senior members of the main parties.
In one dramatic exchange contained in files released under the 30-year rule, Mr Blatherwick suggested that the secretary of state abandon what he claimed was the NIO’s policy of “not interfering” in local parties’ affairs.
It is not clear whether the advice ever reached Jim Prior, who had been secretary of state for just over two months at the time, but the “particularly unwise” suggestion led to a withering rejection from the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Ewart Bell.
Mr Blatherwick’s note, which came just 10 days after the murder of Ulster Unionist MP Robert Bradford by the IRA, said: “The events of the last few days have almost certainly put the final nail in Mr Molyneaux’s coffin as leader of the Official Unionist Party.
“He performed abysmally at Belfast City Hall yesterday. He has been unable to take the fight to Mr Paisley.
“His party is fragmenting, with [Harold] McCusker and Carson going towards the paramilitaries, [John] Taylor towards Dr Paisley and the devolutionist group acting as a time bomb in the rump.
“I do not believe we can do anything to prop up Mr Molyneaux. His continued leadership is not just an embarrassment but a grave disadvantage to everyone because while he is there no alternative can emerge to focus ‘moderate’ unionist support and present the alternative to Paisleyism.”
The memo added: “The problem is, of course, finding an alternative leader. The obvious choice would be Mr McCusker, who has in the past refused to mount a challenge because of illness and out of loyalty to Mr Molyneaux.
“However, Mr McCusker’s views have changed radically over the past 10 days and his address at Harland and Wolff yesterday was able.”
Mr Blackerwick said that the only other real contender was John Taylor and “like most members of the party, I doubt whether he is capable – or willing – to present an alternative to Mr Paisley”.
The memo continued, explicitly requesting that the NIO be allowed to interfere in the UUP’s affairs.
“In the past, we have carefully refrained from interfering in the affairs of political parties here. However, I wonder whether in these circumstances we should not break our rule and urge Mr McCusker to unseat Mr Molyneaux.
“Such an approach would presumably have to be made by the secretary of state, on the basis that in current circumstances Northern Ireland could not afford Mr Molyneaux.”
Mr Blackerwick then made further suggestions as to what the secretary of state may be encouraged to do: “If he felt able to do this, the secretary of state might also urge Mr McCusker to put a basic point across to Ulster Protestants: that the democratic government of the UK lies in Westminster; that there is no room for people who try to usurp government’s functions and that all citizens in NI must choose – not to choose is to make a choice against the government.”
However, the following day Mr Blatherwick’s paper received a stern rebuke from Mr Bell, later Sir Ewart, and no further record of the incident is recorded.
On November 25, 1981, the head of the civil service wrote a confidential response to just five people: “I have just seen Mr Blatherwick’s minute of November 24, suggesting that the secretary of state should ‘interfere’ in the affairs of the Official Unionist Party in an effort to bring about a change of leadership.
“I think that it would be a serious mistake to do this. To begin with, it would become known and be criticised on the grounds that the secretary of state was stepping outside his field of responsibility.
“At a time when we are having to underline where the authority of the secretary of state applies, that would be particularly unwise.
“Second, I do not think that the OUP needs to be told that it lacks leadership and is losing ground to more extreme unionist groups.
“Moves are afoot to unseat Mr Molyneaux and would by now have had results were an obvious successor in the wings. Recent events will have gone a long way to bringing about the necessary change. When it takes place is the time for the secretary of state to move – definitely not before.”
Handwritten on top of the memo are the words: “Mr Bell, I spoke accordingly!” and an illegible signature.
*Further coverages of releases in today’s paper edition