Did You Know About John Andrews?
Northern Ireland’s first Prime Minister, Sir James Craig, served in the post from 1921-40. He died in office. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was at war and it was felt that the next Prime Minister needed to be an ‘exceptional man’. Historian Alvin Jackson told a BBC documentary that the new Prime Minister faced an ‘almost impossible job’. Belfast was an important industrial city and an inevitable key target for the German Air Force.
Thomas Andrews’ brother John M. Andrews (1871-1956) was almost 70 years old. As Labour Minister in the Government of Northern Ireland, he had ensured Northern Ireland had the same social benefits as in Great Britain. He often deputised for Sir James. Andrews’ grandson, Johnny Andrews, reflected that John M. Andrews was ‘the natural successor’ with a strong work ethic and attention to detail, who saw politics as a ‘duty’.
In this British Pathe film, John M. Andrews comments about the war against Hitler’s Germany and argues that ‘Ulster is key to the defence of Ireland…to make it neutral would mean handing over that key to Hitler. A neutral Ulster is impossible…’: