Audio interview with Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, by the BBC on 16 November 2000. On 21 November 2000 the Northern Ireland Police Bill, proposing reform of the RUC, was passed in the House of Commons. A week previously, a senior member of the Patten Commission, Clifford Sheering, had criticised the British government for its failure to implement the Patten Report as originally set out. Peter Mandelson is interviewed two days after Sheering’s comments. He replies to the latter’s criticisms and discusses the potential of the Northern Ireland Police Bill to support the Peace Process. This interview forms part of the BBC Northern Ireland A State Apart online resource which documents thirty years of peace and violence in Northern Ireland from the Troubles to the Belfast Agreement/Good Friday Agreement.
Date of Release/Broadcast: 16 November 2000
Name of First Interviewee: Peter Mandelson
Role at time of Interview: Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Interviewer: Unknown
Purpose: News, Research
Media: Audio
Copyright: BBC © 2012
Link: Listen to the interview
Programme/Book/Article: BBC Northern Ireland A State Apart
Time Period covered: 2000
Key Individuals: Peter Mandelson, Clifford Shearing
Key Words: RUC, Belfast Agreement, Good Friday Agreement, Patten Report, British government, SDLP, Northern Ireland Policing Board