Prime Minister of Northern Ireland

The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the head of the Government of Northern Ireland, appointed by the Governor of Northern Ireland[?] under the Government of Ireland Act, 1920. The system of government created by the Act, of a bicameral legislature, with a majoritarian system of home rule, was abolished in 1972.

The Prime Ministers of Northern Ireland were:

• Sir James Craig (1921-40) [later created Lord Craigavon]
• John Millar Andrews (1940-43)
• Sir Basil Brooke (1943-63) [later created Lord brookeborough]
• Terence O'Neill (1963-69) [later created Lord O'Neill of the Maine]
• James Chichester Clarke (1969-71) [later created Lord Moyola]
• Brian Faulkner (1971-72) [later created Lord Faulkner].

A new office, First Minister of Northern Ireland[?] was created by the Belfast Agreement. In contrast with the majoritarianism of the earlier Stormont regime, the new power-sharing assembly operates on the principles of consociational democracy.