 |
 |
Third Home Rule Bill
In 1911 the Liberal government decided to reduce the powers of the House of Lords by the Parliament Act.
It would take to 1912 before the Third Home Rule Bill was introduced by Herbert Asquith. The most significant difference with the Second Home Rule Bill was that it would have eventually given control of the police to Ireland. Although this version also passed the House of Commons and was voted away by the House of Lords it became law thanks to the Parliament Act.
Ulster and Irish Volunteers
The Third Home Rule Bill was unacceptable for the mainly Protestant population in the north-east part of Ireland, sometimes wrongfully referred to as Ulster. To emphasise this and to protect their interests Sir Edward Carson and James Craig founded the Ulster Volunteers, also known as Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).
As a counterbalance Bulmer Hobson reacted immediately by founding the Irish Volunteers, or Irish Volunteer Force (IVF) in the south of Ireland.
To parry an impending civil war north-east Ireland was allowed to vote themselves out of the Home Rule Bill for six years.
The Third Home Rule Bill would become effective at the end of 1914. The outbreak of the First World War and the involvement of Great Britain in the war compelled postponement. John Redmond, the leader of the Irish National Party, immediately proclaimed his acceptance of the postponement. The flexible attitude of John Redmond, and his appeal to enlist in the British army during the war, caused a conflict in the Irish Volunteer Force (IVF).
Due to the Easter Rising in 1916 the introduction of the Third Home Rule Bill had become unsettled again.