Ireland: Why Britain Must Get Out: The Case for the Withdrawal of British Troops from Northern Ireland

Chatto CounterBlasts #2

by Paul Foot

A pamphlet on the last 70 years of Irish history, providing political argument and an account of the troubled history of Anglo-Irish relations. This award-winning journalist has also written "The Politics of Harold Wilson", "The Rise of Enoch Powell" and "Why You Should be a Socialist".

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

73 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first 2/3 of this slim book covers the historic involvement of England in Ireland, including the partition into North and South, which was entirely for economic reasons, with religious sectarianism used as the excuse, and grim reading it makes for an English person with a heavily edited and redacted version of history received from 70s/80s school and media.

The last 1/3 gives Foot's outline for British withdrawal from the north of Ireland. Post-Good Friday Agreement and with Brexit looming, it still seems reasonable. It also provided me some insight into the basis of the reciprocal arrangements between the Conservative Party and the DUP to prop up each other's beleaguered governments.

I thought this 1989 essay might have been left behind by the tide of subsequent events, but sadly, but also hopefully, it still seems relevant.

[Eleanor Thorp · Rating 5 out of 5]

great! super short, really informative and a very strong authoritative voice.

[James Bullingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

It highlights the plantation of British Protestants to Ireland in the 1500s, and the aftermath of this… which gives historical insight into why some Northern Irish Catholics were willing to take up arms after a (Catholic-led) Civil Rights protest went horribly wrong in the late 1960s.

The book is clearly in defence of the Irish Catholics, but I wouldn’t say it defends the Provisional IRA. But it helps us understand how Britain’s role in Northern Ireland (in the context of the troubles) encouraged IRA membership to increase, and thus the UVF to retaliate even further.