--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The basic policy of the British…" description: "\"The basic policy of the British Government was that since the majority of people in Northern Ireland wished to remain in the United Kingdom, that was t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/john-hume-17639_british_the-basic-policy-of-the-british-governme_2638633.png" --- # The basic policy of the British Government was that since… ![“The basic policy of the British Government was that since the majority of people in Northern Ireland wished to remain in the United Kingdom, that was that. We asked what would happen if the majority wanted something else, if the majority wanted to see Irish unity” quote by John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/john-hume-17639_british_the-basic-policy-of-the-british-governme_2638633.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/john-hume-17639_british_the-basic-policy-of-the-british-governme_2638633.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/john-hume-17639_british_the-basic-policy-of-the-british-governme_2638633.png) > “The basic policy of the British Government was that since the majority of people in Northern Ireland wished to remain in the United Kingdom, that was that. We asked what would happen if the majority wanted something else, if the majority wanted to see Irish unity” [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. British policy favored the majority’s wish to stay in the UK, ignoring potential shifts toward Irish unity. **In simple terms:** Policy reflected current majority, not possible future changes. Key Takeaway Consider minority aspirations in governance. Themes politics policy majority rule Mood reflective concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - referendums - peace talks Key Concepts democratic theory national identity Questions to Reflect On - How to balance majority will with minority rights? - What mechanisms allow peaceful change? A Different Perspective Majority rule may suppress minority rights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [British government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ireland/) [Ireland Wished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ireland-wished-2250304/) [Irish Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irish-unity-2250303/) [Majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majority/) [Northern ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/northern-ireland/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Policy British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy-british-2250302/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-kingdom/) [Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-majority-2250305/) ## Related quotes > [Sinn Fein is an Irish Republican party. We stood in the Assembly election to deliver a prosperous economy and jobs, to protect and enhance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/sinn-fein-is-an-irish-republican-party-we-stood-in-the-assembly/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I'm still an Irish republican; I absolutely believe in Irish unity and am working to achieve that. But over the course of 15 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-m-still-an-irish-republican-i-absolutely-believe-in-irish-unity-and/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [People were so keen to get investment. 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In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [I never thought in terms of being a leader. I thought very simply in terms of helping people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/i-never-thought-in-terms-of-being-a-leader-i-thought-very-simply-in/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [In working class districts, you had several families living together in the one house, and it was very difficult to get a house, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-working-class-districts-you-had-several-families-living-together/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [All conflict is about difference; whether the difference is race religion, or nationality...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/all-conflict-is-about-difference-whether-the-difference-is-race/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [“You are the generation that will be leading in the new century and the new millennium, so the challenge is to make sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/you-are-the-generation-that-will-be-leading-in-the-new-century-and/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [Every child growing up will look to their parents, my mother and my father. 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Difference is an accident of birth, and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/difference-is-the-essence-of-humanity-difference-is-an-accident-of/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [I think that's not a question that one can answer accurately. 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I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. 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