My tribute to David Trimble, Baron Trimble of Lisnagarvey

David Trimble, latterly Lord Trimble (or Baron Trimble of Lisnagarvey, to give his official title when he was in the House of Lords), the first First Minister of Northern Ireland who like John Hume played an instrumental part in ensuring peace in Northern Ireland via the Good Friday Agreement, died earlier this week.

Although Lord Trimble, who led the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) for 10 years was initially elected as a more conservative, traditional unionist leader, he eventually realised, having initially opposed any power sharing between unionists and nationalists for years, that brokering a peace agreement involving both sides of the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland was the only way Northern Ireland could move on from its past and forge a new future. Previous attempts at a Northern Ireland Assembly had failed before following the collapse of the Northern Ireland Parliament in 1972, but Lord Trimble knew that a permanent Assembly, following the Northern Ireland Forum of 1996, was required. Although his tenure as First Minister of Northern Ireland did not go smoothly despite his efforts, the Northern Ireland Assembly still exists to this day. In his final years he opposed anything that he felt could undermine the Good Friday Agreement, including changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol.

So farewell, Lord Trimble. In addition to your work in ensuring the Good Friday Agreement came to pass, you proved that "hardline" politicians are capable of changing and seeing reason and sense if necessary, given enough time and experience.

William David Trimble, Baron Trimble of Lisnagarvey, born 15 October 1944, departed this life on 25 July 2022, aged 77 years.

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