Campaign for Equal Citizenship

A campaign established during a meeting in Belfast on 14 May 1986. The CEC argued that British political parties, such as the Labour and Conservative, should organise and stand for election in Northern Ireland. The CEC had similar aims to that of the Campaign for Labour Representation in Northern Ireland (CLRNI). The CEC was also in favour of the full administrative integration of Northern Ireland into the United Kingdom. The CEC was initially lead by Robert McCartney. Much of the support for the group came from the Unionist community, although it claimed cross-community support. Although both the Labour and Conservative parties said in 1988 that they would not organise in Northern Ireland, the Conservative Party was forced, by a vote at their annual conference in 1989, to begin campaigning in the region.