Faulkner has maintained links on both sides

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32561, 22 March 1971, Page 15

Faulkner has maintained links on both sides

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuler—Copyright) BELFAST, March 20. Mr Brian Faulkner, widely expected to be Northern Ireland’s next Prime Minister, is an agile politician who managed to retain trust among militant Protestants while pushing through reforms to please Northern Ireland’s Roman Catholic minority.

In the troubles of the last two years, Mr Faulkner has managed to maintain links on both sides of the political fence.

i Until about two years ago , he had a reputation as a Protestant hard-liner. ’ It was under such a label that he put himself forward as a candidate to become Northern Ireland Prime Minister after the resignation of

Captain. Terence O’Neil in April, 1969. Mr Faulkner lost that contest by only one vote to Major James ChichesterClark, then regarded as the more moderate of the two. In the Chichester-Clark Government, Mr Faulkner became Minister of Development and in that office he has managed to soften his reputation as a hard-liner. One Of his tasks has been to push through reforms demanded by Roman Catholic civil rights groups such as the institution of one manone vote in local elections and the introduction of more impartiality , into housing allocations. Although he offended some of, the more extremist Protestants, Mr Faulkner managed to keep good relations with the more moderate majority. The Right-winger, Mr William Craig, declared that he would not serve in any Administration under Mr Faulkner. However, the British Government is thought to regard Mr Faulkner as a man it could work with. Although he has always

advocated a measure of liberalism, Mr Faulkner is known to be a strong believer in enforcing strict law and order among both sides in Northern Ireland. Born in February, 1921, Mr Faulkner entered the Northern Ireland Parliament at the age of 28—the youngest man ever to sit there. He became Chief Whip in 1959 and Home Affairs Minister in 1959. His most spectacular performance was as Minister of Commerce, a job he took over in 1963. Under Mr Faulkner’s guidance, unemployment in Northern Ireland fell from 10 per cent to 5 per cent. Mr Faulkner resigned as Minister of Commerce in January, 1969, after disagreements with Captain O’Neil over matters of method. He said at the time that if he took over as Prime Minister he would want to carry on with civil rights reforms and that he would not be prepared to lead a Right-wing Administration. Mr Faulkner lives in County Down. His hobbies are hunting and sailing. He is married with two sons and a daughter.