Planning the Essay

Paragraph Topic	Content to Include	Quotes to Include
Introduction and Thesis	Introduce Sir Basil Brooke, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from 1943-1963, and outline the context of his leadership in post-war Northern Ireland. - Brooke's leadership spanned the early stages of the Cold War, the aftermath of World War II, and significant social and political challenges within Northern Ireland. - State that this essay will assess Brooke's successes and failures, looking at his economic policies, handling of sectarianism, and leadership style.	"It is the first duty of a government to maintain peace, law, and order." — Sir Basil Brooke
Economic Developments (Success)	Under Brooke, Northern Ireland saw post-war economic growth and modernisation, particularly in agriculture, which was a key sector. - The government promoted industrial development through investment in infrastructure, including Belfast's shipyards, which were central to the economy. - The establishment of new industries contributed to economic stability, though it did not fully resolve unemployment issues. - Brooke's support for agricultural mechanisation improved productivity in rural areas.	"Northern Ireland's economy, though small, must be modern and efficient." — Sir Basil Brooke
Economic Inequality and General Unemployment	Despite some economic progress, Brooke failed to address Northern Ireland's deep economic inequality, especially between Catholic and Protestant communities. - High levels of unemployment persisted, particularly in Catholic areas, leading to accusations of discrimination in the allocation of jobs. - This failure contributed to growing dissatisfaction among the Catholic minority, and a widening socio-economic gap between the two communities.
Brooke Maintains Political Stability	Brooke's government maintained relative political stability in Northern Ireland during a period of significant tension in the post-war years. - His leadership helped sustain the Unionist Party's dominance, ensuring continued support for Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom. - By maintaining close ties with Britain, Brooke ensured continued financial support and avoided major political crises.	"Our duty is to preserve our link with Great Britain at all costs." — Sir Basil Brooke

| Failure to address sectarian violence | - One of Brooke's most significant failures was his handling of sectarianism. His government faced widespread criticism for its discriminatory practices against Catholics, particularly in housing, jobs, and voting rights.
- Brooke's Unionist government reinforced Protestant control, marginalising the Catholic minority and contributing to long-term tensions.
- His public comments, such as advising against employing Catholics in certain sectors, exacerbated the sectarian divide. | | | Reforms in society and in welfare | - Brooke's government implemented significant social welfare reforms, such as improvements in healthcare and education that mirrored British post-war reforms.
- The introduction of the National Health Service (NHS) in Northern Ireland under his leadership was a significant achievement that benefitted both Protestant and Catholic communities.
- These reforms helped raise living standards for many and aligned Northern Ireland with Britain's welfare state model. | "We must look after our people's welfare, as is done across the United Kingdom." — Sir Basil Brooke |

| Resistance to Civil Rights Movements in NI | As civil rights movements gained momentum in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Brooke resisted calls for reform, particularly from Catholic civil rights groups.
- His refusal to address demands for equality in voting rights, housing, and jobs increased sectarian tensions and led to rising unrest.
- By the time of his resignation in 1963, Northern Ireland was on the brink of significant political conflict, which would escalate later in the 1960s. | | | Concluding Piece | Summarise Brooke's leadership as one of mixed successes and failures: while he achieved economic growth and improved welfare services, his failure to address sectarian divisions and economic inequalities led to growing unrest.
- Conclude that his successes in maintaining stability were overshadowed by his inability to address the roots of sectarianism, which ultimately set the stage for future conflict in Northern Ireland. | |

Sample Essay

"Our duty is to preserve our link with Great Britain at all costs" - Basil Broke. Sir Basil Brooke served as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from 1943 to 1963, a pivotal time in the region's history, especially regarding its relationship with Britain and the growing sectarian divide. His leadership covered the post-war period, a time of global recovery and increasing Cold War tensions. As the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader, Brooke aimed to maintain political stability and secure Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom. However, his tenure was marked by both successes and failures. While Brooke achieved notable progress in areas like economic development and welfare reforms, his inability to address the deep sectarian tensions and growing economic inequality between Protestant and Catholic communities stands as one of his greatest failures. This essay will explore the key successes and failures of Brooke's long premiership, assessing his economic policies, his political management, and his handling of social issues.

One of Brooke's most significant achievements was his contribution to economic development in Northern Ireland, particularly in the post-war era. His government invested in modernising Northern Ireland's economy, especially in the agricultural sector, where mechanisation was key to improving productivity. Brooke supported rural development projects that benefitted Unionist farmers, boosting agricultural output in Protestant-dominated areas. His government also backed industrial development, particularly in Belfast's shipyards, where industries such as Harland and Wolff remained central to Northern Ireland's economy. Although shipbuilding and textiles were in decline globally, Brooke worked to maintain Northern Ireland's industrial competitiveness. Additionally, his administration supported infrastructure improvements, including road and transport projects designed to stimulate economic activity and support industrial growth. These efforts helped stabilise Northern Ireland's economy in the short term, securing Unionist support, particularly among rural communities.

However, despite these efforts, Brooke's economic policies did not address the growing problem of economic inequality between Catholic and Protestant communities. While some areas, especially those dominated by Unionists, benefitted from modernisation and investment, Catholic-majority areas such as Derry and parts of Belfast faced significant neglect. High levels of unemployment persisted, particularly in these Catholic areas, where underinvestment and discrimination in employment opportunities left many economically disadvantaged. Discrimination in job allocation was a well-documented issue, with Catholics often excluded from key sectors, including public employment. Brooke's failure to tackle these systemic inequalities perpetuated economic marginalisation and deepened social divisions. By the late 1950s, Northern Ireland was facing increased economic instability, and Brooke's inability to address the root causes of inequality contributed to a growing sense of discontent among the Catholic population.

Despite the economic challenges, Brooke successfully maintained political stability during his tenure. Under his leadership, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) maintained its dominant position in Northern Ireland's government, ensuring continued support for Unionism and the region's place within the United Kingdom. Brooke was able to keep the Unionist bloc united, even during periods of significant international tension, such as the rise of the Cold War and cross-border issues with the Republic of Ireland. His administration maintained strong ties with the British government, securing essential financial and political support that helped Northern Ireland avoid major political crises. Brooke's focus on preserving Northern Ireland's connection to Britain was a central feature of his leadership, and in this, he was successful. The Unionist majority remained firmly in control of the government, and there were no serious challenges to Northern Ireland's constitutional status during his time in office.

One of the most glaring failures of Brooke's leadership, however, was his handling of sectarianism and discrimination against Catholics. His government faced persistent accusations of institutionalised discrimination in areas such as housing, voting rights, and employment. Catholics were systematically marginalised in Northern Ireland's political and social structures, with many excluded from housing programmes and facing difficulties in accessing public sector jobs. Brooke's government also maintained discriminatory voting practices, such as gerrymandering, which ensured that Protestants controlled key local councils, even in areas with significant Catholic populations. Perhaps the most infamous example of Brooke's sectarian views came when he publicly stated, "I have never employed a Roman Catholic in my life," a remark that encapsulated the deep-rooted sectarianism of his government. Brooke's failure to address these issues worsened sectarian tensions and contributed to the growing civil rights demands that would emerge in the 1960s.

Despite his controversial stance on sectarianism, Brooke's government made significant progress in social and welfare reforms, which benefitted Protestant and Catholic communities. One of the key achievements of his administration was the introduction of the National Health Service (NHS) in Northern Ireland in 1948, which provided universal healthcare, mirroring the wider UK's welfare state model. Brooke's government also improved access to education, implementing reforms that expanded educational opportunities for children across Northern Ireland. These reforms were particularly important for working-class families, as they helped raise living standards and modernised key public services. By aligning Northern Ireland's welfare policies with those of the rest of the UK, Brooke's administration contributed to a general improvement in the quality of life for many Northern Irish citizens, regardless of their religious background.

However, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Brooke's leadership faced growing pressure from civil rights movements, particularly Catholic groups demanding equality in voting rights, housing, and employment. Brooke remained resistant to these demands for reform, viewing them as a threat to Northern Ireland's political stability and the Protestant Unionist dominance. His refusal to address these issues resulted in increasing sectarian tensions and unrest. By the time Brooke resigned in 1963, Northern Ireland was on the brink of significant political and social upheaval. His resistance to reform meant that many of the grievances the civil rights movement voiced remained unresolved, setting the stage for the later conflicts of the Troubles.

A mixture of successes and failures marked Sir Basil Brooke's leadership from 1945 to 1963. While he oversaw economic modernisation and successfully implemented social reforms like the NHS, his tenure was defined by a failure to address the deep sectarian divisions that plagued Northern Ireland. Brooke's inability to tackle economic inequality and his government's discriminatory policies towards Catholics only served to deepen the socio-political rift in Northern Irish society. His legacy is, therefore, one of political stability for Unionists but growing unrest among the Catholic minority. Though his successes are notable, particularly in maintaining Northern Ireland's constitutional status within the United Kingdom, his failure to deal with sectarianism and civil rights issues ultimately undermined his achievements and set the stage for future conflict.