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The Rest Is Politics: Leading

17: Gerry Adams: The Troubles, Margaret Thatcher, and the IRA

The Rest Is Politics: Leading

Goalhanger

Government, News, Politics

4.6 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 8 May 2023

⏱️ 44 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How much do you know about Thatcher's back channels with Irish republicans during the Troubles? What are Gerry Adams' emotions towards the 1984 Brighton hotel bombing, looking back now in 2023? Who were the most important people in the negotiations that brought peace to the island of Ireland? Alastair and Rory sat down with the former Sinn Féin president to discuss all these questions and more in today's episode of Leading. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive a weekly newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up. Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producers: Dom Johnson + Nicole Maslen Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to another episode of the Restless Policies Leading with me, Anastacamble.

0:10.0

And with me, Rory Stewart. And me, Gerry Adams.

0:12.0

Well, thank you for introducing yourself.

0:14.0

And let me say, Gerry Adams, let's describe Gerry Adams.

0:17.0

I think Gerry Adams, to some, a heroic freedom fighter leading his country to unity and peace and prosperity,

0:25.0

others a figure of hate, and seen as a man of terror and violence.

0:30.0

To me, the guy that I saw very, very, very often in close proximity, particularly with Tony Blair and Bertie Henry,

0:39.0

who we've just bumped into, and an integral part of what became the peace process and the Israeli agreement.

0:47.0

So something of anigma.

0:49.0

It was only because we persuaded you and your government to embrace peace.

0:54.0

And when Mr. Blair changed British government policy to actually talking to Shinfian Imagine,

1:02.0

I just imagine that the British government wouldn't talk to a person who adamanted as an MP leading a political party,

1:12.0

which had a declared publicized peace object.

1:17.0

But you moved before that, in a sense.

1:20.0

Of course, we did. But you can only move so far, and then furnace to you, and Jonathan, and relatively to Tony.

1:27.0

It was only when you commenced that big majority, and the new government, and new kids in the block,

1:33.0

that you turned things the way they were turned.

1:36.0

So you talked to my predecessor, a member of Parliament, Penrod and Board of Willy White Law,

1:41.0

I guess, back in the 70s.

1:43.0

That's a long time ago.

1:46.0

Do you remember him?

1:47.0

I do remember him.

...

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