POLITICS

Northern Ireland Political Flag

The Ulster Unionist Party governed Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972. More recently, the party has split into two groups; the Official Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party; the latter, led by the Reverend Ian Paisley, is opposed to any compromise on Northern Irelandís future in relation to Great Britain and is the most hostile to the Republic of Ireland. The other main political parties are the Social Democratic and Labour Party, which supports peaceful reunification with Ireland, the Alliance Party, and Sinn Fein, the political wing of the outlawed Irish Republican Army.