Editing Ian Paisley (section)

==Political career, 1949–2010==

===Early activism===
In 1949, Paisley formed a Northern Irish branch of the [[National Union of Protestants]], the group being led in the UK by his uncle, W. St Clair Taylor.<ref name="jordan">Richard Lawrence Jordan, ''The Second Coming of Paisley: Militant Fundamentalism and Ulster Politics'', p.222</ref>  Paisley's first political involvement came at the [[1950 United Kingdom general election|1950 general election]] when he campaigned on behalf of the successful [[Ulster Unionist Party]] (UUP) candidate in [[Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)|Belfast West]], the [[Church of Ireland]] minister [[James Godfrey MacManaway]].<ref>[[Clifford Smyth]], ''Ian Paisley: Voice of Protestant Ulster'', p.4</ref> Independent Unionist MP [[Norman Porter]] came to lead the National Union of Protestants, while Paisley became treasurer, but Paisley left after Porter refused to join the Free Presbyterian Church.<ref name="Ian Paisley p.5"/>

Paisley first hit headlines in 1956 when Maura Lyons, a 15-year-old Belfast Catholic doubting her faith, sought his help and was smuggled illegally to Scotland by members of his Free Presbyterian Church. Paisley publicly played a tape of her religious conversion but refused to help with the search for her, saying he would rather go to prison than return her to her Catholic family.<ref name="McCrystal" /> Lyons eventually returned both to her family and Catholicism.<ref name="McCrystal" />

In 1956, Paisley was one of the founders of [[Ulster Protestant Action]] (UPA). Its initial purpose was to organise the defence of Protestant areas against anticipated [[Irish Republican Army (1922-1969)|Irish Republican Army]] (IRA) activity. It carried out vigilante patrols, made street barricades, and drew up lists of IRA suspects in both Belfast and rural areas.<ref>See [[Charles Brett|CEB Brett]], ''Long Shadows Cast Before'', Edinburgh, 1978, pp. 130–131</ref><ref name="encyclopedia-political" >[https://books.google.com/books?id=qps14mSlghcC&dq=%22Ian+Paisley%22+%22Ulster+Protestant+Action%22&pg=PA255 ''Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102175818/https://books.google.com/books?id=qps14mSlghcC&pg=PA255&lpg=PA255&dq=%22Ian+Paisley%22+%22Ulster+Protestant+Action%22&source=bl&ots=2i9IP_GyUb&sig=2-bdewO6ZBzX7QvyhI0OQy8YsgE&hl=en&ei=ZQ4xS7mdBoGRjAekhunRAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CBMQ6AEwBTge |date=2 January 2016 }}, Peter Barberis, John McHugh, Mike Tyldesley, p.255</ref> The UPA was to later become the [[Protestant Unionist Party]] in 1966.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=c5TPHakJ98cC&dq=protestant+unionist+party+1966&pg=PA144 Making the Irish American] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904094905/https://books.google.com/books?id=c5TPHakJ98cC&pg=PA144&lpg=PA144&dq=protestant+unionist+party+1966&source=bl&ots=XpMWEmLXh9&sig=TnEqKpIstgJUHB74Pjp5XK8eV4E&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Wl82T4vqFoGm8gO8_9mqAg&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=protestant%20unionist%20party%201966&f=false |date=4 September 2015 }}, Joseph Lee and Marion R. Casey, p144, NYU Press, 2006</ref> UPA factory and workplace branches were formed, including one by Paisley in Belfast's [[Ravenhill (Belfast)|Ravenhill]] area under his direct control. The concern of the UPA increasingly came to focus on the defence of 'Bible Protestantism' and Protestant interests where jobs and housing were concerned.<ref>See Ian S. Wood, 'The IRA's Border Campaign' p. 123 in Anderson, Malcolm and Eberhard Bort, ed. 'Irish Border: History, Politics, Culture'. Liverpool University Press. 1999</ref> The UPA also campaigned against the allocation of public housing to Catholics.<ref>Coogan, Tim Pat. ''The Troubles: Ireland's Ordeal and the Search for Peace''. Palgrave Macmillan, 2002. p.56</ref>

As Paisley came to dominate UPA, he received his first convictions for public order offences. In June 1959, Paisley addressed a UPA rally in the mainly-Protestant [[Shankill Road|Shankill]] district of Belfast. During the speech, he shouted out the addresses of some Catholic-owned homes and businesses in the area. These homes and businesses were then attacked by the crowd; windows were smashed, shops were looted and "[[Taig]]s out" painted on the doors.<ref>Moloney, Ed. ''Paisley''. Poolbeg, 1986. pp.89–90</ref><ref name="Coogan, p.56">Coogan, p.56</ref>

During the [[1964 United Kingdom general election|1964 UK general election]] campaign, an [[Irish republican]] candidate displayed an [[Flag of Ireland|Irish tricolour]] from the window of his office in a republican area of Belfast. Paisley threatened that if the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]] (RUC) did not remove the tricolour he would lead a march to the office and take it down himself. The [[Flags and Emblems Act]] banned the public display of any symbol, with the exception of the [[Union Flag]], that could cause a breach of the peace.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1987/Uksi_19870463_en_6.htm |title=Statutory Instrument 1987 No. 463 (N.I. 7) |publisher=Opsi.gov.uk |date=20 September 2000 |access-date=16 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419202543/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1987/Uksi_19870463_en_6.htm |archive-date=19 April 2010 }}</ref> In response, armed officers arrived at the building, smashed their way inside and seized the flag. This led to severe rioting between republicans and the RUC. Thirty people, including at least 18 officers, had to be hospitalised.<ref name=tricolour>Boyd, Andrew. ''Holy War in Belfast''. [http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/docs/boyd69.htm Chapter 11: The Tricolour Riots] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827111703/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/docs/boyd69.htm |date=27 August 2011 }}. Anvil Books, 1969. Reproduced on [[CAIN]].</ref>

===Opposition to the civil rights movement===
In 1964, a peaceful [[Northern Ireland civil-rights movement (1960s)|civil rights campaign]] began in Northern Ireland. The civil rights movement sought to end discrimination against Catholics and those of Catholic background by the Protestant and unionist [[government of Northern Ireland]]. Paisley instigated and led loyalist opposition to the civil rights movement over the next few years. He also led opposition against [[Terence O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine|Terence O'Neill]], [[Prime Minister of Northern Ireland]]. Although O'Neill was also unionist, Paisley and his followers saw him as being too 'soft' on the civil rights movement and opposed his policies of reform and reconciliation.<ref name=tricolour/>

In April 1966, Paisley and his associate [[Noel Doherty (loyalist)|Noel Doherty]] founded the [[Ulster Constitution Defence Committee]] (UCDC) and its paramilitary wing, the [[Ulster Protestant Volunteers]] (UPV).<ref name="Coogan, p.57">Coogan, p.57</ref><ref name=Boulton >Boulton, David. ''The UVF 1966–73, An Anatomy of Loyalist Rebellion''. Torc Books, 1973. (Boulton 34)</ref> At the time, Irish republicans were marking the 50th anniversary of the [[Easter Rising]]. Although the IRA was inactive, loyalists such as Paisley warned that it was about to be revived and launch another campaign against Northern Ireland.<ref name=cain1800>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch1800-1967.htm Chronology of Key Events in Irish History: 1800 to 1967] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303105236/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch1800-1967.htm |date=3 March 2011 }}. [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN). Retrieved 12 September 2014.</ref> At the same time, a loyalist paramilitary group calling itself the "[[Ulster Volunteer Force]]" (UVF) emerged in the [[Shankill Road|Shankill]] area of Belfast, led by [[Gusty Spence]]. Many of its members were also members of the UCDC and UPV,<ref>Jordan, Hugh. ''Milestones in Murder: Defining moments in Ulster's terror war''. Random House, 2011. Chapter 3.</ref> including UCDC secretary and UPV leader Noel Doherty.<ref name="Coogan, p.57"/> Paisley publicly thanked the UVF for taking part in a march on 7 April.<ref name="Coogan, p.59">Coogan, p.59</ref> Paisley forced the Stormont government to mobilise B-Specials for the entire month of April with the hope of outlawing public commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the [[1916 Easter Rising]]. Paisley failed in this objective but did succeed in pressuring the government to ban trains from the Republic transporting people to Northern Ireland for the ceremonies.<ref>Coogan, Tim Pat. ''The Troubles: Ireland's Ordeal and the Search for Peace''. Palgrave Macmillan, 2002. p.59</ref> In May and June, the UVF [[petrol bomb]]ed a number of Catholic homes, schools and businesses. It also shot dead two Catholic civilians as they walked home.<ref name=cain1800/><ref>Coogan, p.58</ref> These are sometimes seen as the first deaths of [[the Troubles]]. Following the killings, the UVF was outlawed and Paisley denied any knowledge of its activities.<ref name="Coogan, p.59"/> One of those convicted for the killings said after his arrest "I am terribly sorry I ever heard of that man Paisley or decided to follow him".<ref>Coogan, p.55</ref>

Paisley would later establish two other paramilitary groups: [[Third Force (Northern Ireland)|Third Force]] in 1981<ref>Paul Arthur & Keith Jeffrey, ''Northern Ireland Since 1968'', Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1996</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/organ/torgan.htm#tf|title=Abstracts of Organisations|publisher=[[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN)|access-date=16 June 2010|archive-date=6 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206173403/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/organ/torgan.htm#tf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953237,00.html|magazine=Time|title=Northern Ireland: Unleashing the Third Force|date=7 December 1981|access-date=4 May 2010|archive-date=15 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015130310/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953237,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Ulster Resistance]] in 1986.<ref name="time-third-force">[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953237,00.html "Unleashing the Third Force"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206130953/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953237,00.html |date=6 December 2008 }} ''Time''</ref><ref name=cain-u>{{cite web|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/organ/uorgan.htm#ur|title=Abstracts of Organisations: U|publisher=[[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN)|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-date=22 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222030139/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/organ/uorgan.htm#ur|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 6 June 1966, Paisley led a march to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church against what he claimed to be its "Romeward trend". The authorities allowed the marchers to go through the Catholic [[Ormeau Road|Cromac Square]] neighbourhood carrying placards with anti-Catholic slogans.<ref name=tricolour/> Catholic youths attacked the march and clashed with the RUC. Many were injured and cars and businesses were wrecked.<ref name=tricolour/> Following the riots, Paisley was charged with unlawful assembly and sentenced to three months in prison.<ref name=tricolour/> The ''Belfast Telegraph'' declared that Paisley's organisations "represent a defiance of lawful authority no less serious in essence than that of the IRA".<ref>Boulton, David. ''The UVF, 1966–73: An anatomy of loyalist rebellion''. Gill and Macmillan, 1973. p.43</ref> On 22 July 1966, Paisleyites clashed with the RUC outside [[HM Prison Crumlin Road|Crumlin Road Prison]], where Paisley was being held. The next day, Protestant mobs several thousand strong "rampaged through the city, smashing windows and trying to damage businesses owned by Catholics". In response, the authorities banned all meetings and marches in Belfast for three months.<ref>Coogan, p.60</ref>

On 30 November 1968, hours before a civil rights march in [[Armagh]], Paisley and [[Ronald Bunting]] arrived in the town in a convoy of cars. Men armed with nail-studded cudgels emerged from the cars and took over the town centre to prevent the march.<ref>Coogan, p.77</ref> The RUC halted the civil rights march, sparking outrage from activists. On 25 March 1969, Paisley and Bunting were jailed for organising the illegal counter-demonstration.<ref name=cain69>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch69.htm A Chronology of the Conflict – 1969] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206184139/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch69.htm |date=6 December 2010 }}. [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN).</ref> On 6 May, they were released during a general amnesty for people convicted of political offences.<ref name=cain69/>

In March–April 1969, the [[Ulster Protestant Volunteers]] (UPV) bombed water and electricity installations in Northern Ireland, leaving much of Belfast without power and water.<ref name=cain69/> Paisley and the UPV blamed the bombings on the dormant IRA and elements of the civil rights movement. Paisley's ''Protestant Telegraph'' called them "the first act of sabotage perpetrated by the IRA since the murderous campaign of 1956", warning that it was "an ominous indication of what lies ahead for Ulster".<ref>Coogan, p.84</ref> Many people believed these claims of IRA responsibility. The loyalists also hoped that the bombings would weaken confidence in Prime Minister Terence O'Neill.<ref>Cusack, Jim & McDonald, Henry. ''UVF''. Poolbeg, 1997. p.28</ref> Unionist support for O'Neill waned, and on 28 April he resigned as Prime Minister.<ref name=cain69/> Paisley's approach led him, in turn, to oppose O'Neill's successors as Prime Minister, Major [[James Chichester-Clark]] (later Lord Moyola) and [[Brian Faulkner]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/northern_ireland/understanding/events/sunningdale.stm Sunningdale Agreement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005122214/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/northern_ireland/understanding/events/sunningdale.stm |date=5 October 2012 }}, BBC News. Retrieved 11 February 2012</ref>

The civil rights campaign, and attacks on it by loyalists and police, culminated in the [[1969 Northern Ireland riots|August 1969 riots]]. The [[1969 Northern Ireland riots]], [[Divis Tower|Divis Street]] were the worst in Belfast since the 1930s.<ref name="Coogan, p.56"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theirishstory.com/2013/01/09/belfast-riots-a-short-history/|title=Belfast Riots – A Short History|date=9 January 2013|access-date=4 August 2015|archive-date=1 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801104639/http://www.theirishstory.com/2013/01/09/belfast-riots-a-short-history/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://libcom.org/history/1932-belfast-outdoor-relief-strike|title=1932: Belfast Outdoor Relief Strike|access-date=4 August 2015|archive-date=7 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907042353/http://libcom.org/history/1932-belfast-outdoor-relief-strike|url-status=live}}</ref> Catholic Irish nationalists clashed with the police and with loyalists, who invaded Catholic neighbourhoods and burned scores of homes and businesses. This led to the [[Operation Banner|deployment of British troops]] and is seen by many as the beginning of the Troubles. Journalists Patrick Bishop and Eamonn Mallie said of the rioting in Belfast: "Both communities were in the grip of a mounting paranoia about the other's intentions. Catholics were convinced that they were about to become victims of a Protestant [[pogrom]]; Protestants that they were on the eve of an IRA insurrection".<ref>Patrick Bishop & Eamonn Mallie. ''The Provisional IRA''. Corgi, 1988. p.103</ref> After the riots, Paisley is reported to have said:<blockquote>Catholic homes caught fire because they were loaded with petrol bombs; Catholic churches were attacked and burned because they were arsenals and priests handed out sub-machine guns to parishioners.<ref>[https://archive.today/20140912200213/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/the-sayings-of-ian-paisley-30582269.html "The sayings of Ian Paisley"]. ''Belfast Telegraph''. 12 September 2014.</ref></blockquote>

===Electoral success and founding of the DUP===
[[File:Ian Paisley 1970.png|thumb|200px|Paisley in 1970]]
On 16 April 1970, in [[1970 Bannside by-election|a by-election]] to the [[Parliament of Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland Parliament]], Paisley, standing on behalf of the [[Protestant Unionist Party]], won the [[Bannside (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)|Bannside]] seat formerly held by Prime Minister Terence O'Neill. Another PUP candidate, [[William Beattie (politician)|William Beattie]], won the [[South Antrim (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)|South Antrim]] seat. In the [[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970 UK general election]], Paisley won the [[North Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)|North Antrim]] seat. These elections were "further evidence of the break-up of the unionist block and the unease among a large section of Protestants about the reform measures introduced under [[James Chichester-Clark|Chichester-Clark]]".<ref name=cain70>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch70.htm A Chronology of the Conflict – 1970] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514133724/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch70.htm |date=14 May 2011 }}. [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN).</ref>

On 30 September 1971, Paisley and [[Desmond Boal]] founded the [[Democratic Unionist Party]] (DUP).<ref name=cain71>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch71.htm A Chronology of the Conflict – 1971] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514133620/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch71.htm |date=14 May 2011 }}. [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN).</ref>

===Relationship with the nationalist SDLP===
From the 1960s, one of his main rivals was civil rights leader and co-founder of the nationalist [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] (SDLP), [[John Hume]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/12/ian-paisley-dies-aged-88-northern-ireland|title=Ian Paisley, the Dr No of Ulster politics, dies aged 88|first=Henry|last=McDonald|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=12 September 2014|access-date=11 December 2016|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322014223/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/12/ian-paisley-dies-aged-88-northern-ireland|url-status=live}}</ref> British Government papers, released in 2002, show that in 1971 Paisley attempted to reach a compromise with the [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] (SDLP).<ref name=Deal >[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/uk_confidential/1717296.stm  "Ian Paisley sought 'deal' with SDLP"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116120820/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/uk_confidential/1717296.stm |date=16 November 2006 }}, BBC News, 1 January 2002.</ref> The attempt was made via then British Cabinet Secretary, [[Burke Trend|Sir Burke Trend]]. The papers show that Paisley had indicated he could "reach an accommodation with leaders of the Catholic minority, which would provide the basis of a new government in Stormont." It appears that the move was rejected once it became clear to the SDLP that it would have created a very one-sided alliance. Speaking about the deal in 2002 Paisley said: {{Cquote|The SDLP did not want to go along the road that we would have wanted them to go. I wouldn't say there were talks, there was an exchange of views between us, but it never got anywhere. We were prepared to try and seek a way whereby we could govern Northern Ireland and that people of both faiths could be happy with the way it was being governed, but it all rested on the key point – the person with power would be the person that the people gave the power.<ref name=Deal />}}

Promoting the DUP's manifesto at a launch event ahead of the [[1983 United Kingdom general election]] Paisley made clear that the core message of the party's campaign would be to "expose and oppose Provisional Sinn Fein and its fellow travellers, the SDLP." Responding to reporters, Paisley said:

{{Blockquote|[The SDLP] are going down the same united Ireland road as Sinn Fein, so they are fellow travellers. We will be taking on the Sinn Fein frontmen for the IRA and are determined to smash them at the polls.<ref>''Belfast News Letter'', 25 May 1983</ref>}}

Speaking at the launch of the DUP's policy proposals for devolved government for the [[Northern Ireland Assembly (1982)|briefly revived Northern Ireland Assembly]] in September 1984, Paisley echoed the document's position on power-sharing with the SDLP:

{{Blockquote|I am totally opposed to power-sharing because it is unworkable and destroys the very principle of my Unionism, which is that we are part of the UK and cannot in any way bring into government those who want to destroy Northern Ireland.<ref>''Belfast Telegraph'', 20 September 1984</ref>}}

In one interview during the referendum campaign following the signing of the 1998 [[Good Friday Agreement]], he declared that he
was 'opposed to power-sharing with nationalists because nationalists are only power-sharing to destroy Northern Ireland' clearly meaning the SDLP as well as Sinn Féin.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gordon|first=David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UPr4AwAAQBAJ|title=The Fall of the House of Paisley, The Downfall of Ian Paisley's Political Dynasty
|date=June 30, 2009|publisher=Gill Books|isbn=9780717151585|language=en}}</ref>

===Campaign against the Sunningdale Agreement===
{{main|Ulster Workers' Council strike}}
[[File:Troubled Images Exhibition, Belfast, August 2010 (03).JPG|thumb|200px|A United Ulster Unionist poster, warning that the Sunningdale Agreement would lead to "[[Dublin]] Rule" (i.e. a [[united Ireland]])]]
The [[Sunningdale Agreement]] of December 1973 set up a new [[Northern Ireland Executive (1974)|government for Northern Ireland]] in which unionists and nationalists would share power. It also proposed the creation of a Council of Ireland, which would facilitate co-ordination and co-operation between the governments of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Paisley and other hardline unionists opposed the Agreement. Specifically, they opposed sharing political power with nationalists and saw the Council of Ireland as a step towards a [[united Ireland]].

Paisley, along with anti-Agreement [[Ulster Unionist Party]] leader [[Harry West]] and [[Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party|Ulster Vanguard]] leader [[William Craig (Northern Ireland politician)|William Craig]], formed the [[United Ulster Unionist Council]] (UUUC) to oppose the Agreement. Its slogan was ''Dublin is just a Sunningdale away''.<ref>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/sunningdale/chron.htm The Sunningdale Agreement – Chronology of Main Events] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114104616/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/sunningdale/chron.htm |date=14 January 2011 }}. [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN).</ref> Loyalists formed the [[Ulster Workers' Council]] (UWC) to mobilise loyalist workers against the Agreement, while the loyalist paramilitary groups ([[Ulster Defence Association|UDA]], [[Ulster Volunteer Force|UVF]] etc.) formed the [[Ulster Army Council]] (UAC) to co-ordinate their response.

Addressing an anti-Agreement rally in January 1974, Paisley declared:<blockquote>Mr [[Brian Faulkner|Faulkner]] says it's 'hands across the border' to Dublin. I say if they don't behave themselves in [[Republic of Ireland|the South]], it will be ''shots'' across the border!<ref>[http://www.broadsheet.ie/2014/01/10/shots-across-the-border/ "Shots across the border"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129192448/http://www.broadsheet.ie/2014/01/10/shots-across-the-border/ |date=29 January 2014 }}. Broadsheet.ie. 10 January 2014.</ref></blockquote>

On 15 May 1974, the UWC called a general strike aimed at bringing down the Agreement and the new government. A co-ordinating committee was set up to help organise the strike. It included Paisley and the other UUUC leaders, the leaders of the UWC, and the heads of the loyalist paramilitary groups. Its chairman was [[Glenn Barr]], a high-ranking member of Ulster Vanguard and the UDA. In its first meeting, Barr arrived late and found Paisley sitting at the head of the table. Barr told him "you might be chairman of the Democratic Unionist Party but I'm chairman of the co-ordinating committee, so move over". Paisley moved from the head of the table but carried the chair away with him and the two argued over the chair itself, with Paisley eventually allowed to keep it as he claimed to need a chair with arms due to back pain.<ref>Anderson, Don. ''14 May Days: The Inside Story of the Loyalist Strike of 1974''. Gill and Macmillan, 1994. p.75</ref>

The strike lasted fourteen days and brought Northern Ireland to a standstill. Loyalist paramilitaries helped to enforce the strike by blocking roads and intimidating workers.<ref>[[David George Boyce]] and Alan O'Day. ''Defenders of the Union: a survey of British and Irish unionism since 1801''. Routledge, 2001. p.255.</ref><ref>Tonge, Jonathan. ''Northern Ireland: Conflict and Change''. Pearson Education, 2002. p.119.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/uwc/anderson.htm|title=CAIN: Events: UWC Strike: Anderson, Don. – Chapter from '14 May Days'|access-date=14 September 2014|archive-date=7 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007014857/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/uwc/anderson.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> On 17 May, the third day of the strike, loyalists [[Dublin and Monaghan bombings|detonated four car bombs in Dublin and Monaghan]], in the Republic of Ireland. The bombs killed 33 civilians and injured 300, making it the deadliest attack of the Troubles, and the deadliest terrorist attack in the Republic's history.<ref>[[Oireachtas]] [http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/dublin/barron310304.pdf Sub-Committee report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007033010/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/dublin/barron310304.pdf |date=7 October 2014 }} on the Barron Report (2004), p.25</ref> In an interview nine months before his death, Paisley said he was "shocked" by the bombings, but claimed that the Republic's government provoked the attack.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25673999 "Ian Paisley criticised over Dublin-Monaghan bombs comment"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905233927/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25673999 |date=5 September 2018 }}. BBC News. 10 January 2014.</ref> The strike led to the downfall of the Agreement on 28 May.

===Unionist Action Council strike===
In 1977 the [[United Unionist Action Council]] (UUAC) was formed out of the UUUC. The council was chaired by [[Joseph Burns (Northern Ireland politician)|Joseph Burns]] and included Paisley, [[Ernest Baird]] (leader of the [[United Ulster Unionist Movement]]), members of the Ulster Workers' Council, and leaders of loyalist paramilitaries including the UDA, [[Orange Volunteers (1972)|Orange Volunteers]] and [[Down Orange Welfare]]. The UUAC also established its own loyalist vigilante group called the [[Ulster Service Corps]] (USC).<ref name=cain-u/>

On 3 May 1977, the UUAC organised a general strike. It was seen by the public as "Paisley's strike", due to his prominent role in it.<ref name=1977strikesummary>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/uuac/sum.htm United Unionist Action Council (UUAC) Strike (1977) – Summary of Events] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007033000/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/uuac/sum.htm |date=7 October 2014 }}. [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN). Retrieved 22 September 2014.</ref> The main aims of the strike were to restore devolved government to Northern Ireland under a system of simple majority (i.e. unionist) rule and to force the British Government to introduce tougher security measures against the IRA.<ref name=1977strikesummary/> As in 1974, loyalist paramilitaries tried to enforce the strike by blocking roads, intimidating workers and attacking businesses that refused to co-operate.<ref name=1977strikechronology>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/uuac/chron.htm United Unionist Action Council (UUAC) Strike (1977) – Chronology of Events] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314171433/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/uuac/chron.htm |date=14 March 2012 }}. [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN). Retrieved 22 September 2014.</ref> However, unlike in 1974, many workers refused to join the strike and the security forces were better prepared.<ref name=1977strikechronology/> The Ulster Service Corps set up roadblocks and carried out patrols in rural areas. Some members carried guns, although these were generally legally-held firearms.<ref>Wood, Ian S., ''Crimes of Loyalty: A History of the UDA'', Edinburgh University Press, 2006, p. 64</ref> During a speech in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], Paisley claimed to have taken part in some of these patrols and encouraged his supporters to join the group.<ref>Wood, ''Crimes of Loyalty'', pp. 64–65</ref> On 10 May, Protestant bus driver Harry Bradshaw was shot dead by loyalists for working during the strike, and UDR soldier John Geddis was killed when loyalists bombed a petrol station that had stayed open.<ref name=1977strikechronology/> That same day, Paisley, Baird and other members of the UUAC were arrested at a roadblock outside Ballymena. Paisley was charged with obstruction of the highway and then released.<ref name=1977strikechronology/>

On 13 May, the strike was called off. The strike was widely seen as a failure, but Paisley—who had said he would quit politics if it failed—declared it a success and continued his career.<ref name=1977strikesummary/> The RUC later reported that three people had been killed by loyalists during the strike, 41 RUC officers had been injured, there had been thousands of reports of intimidation, and 115 people had been charged with offences.<ref name=1977strikechronology/>

===Election to European Parliament===
Paisley opposed the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC) but stood for election to the [[European Parliament]] to give a platform to his views and those of his supporters. In June 1979, in the [[1979 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|first election]] to the European Parliament, Paisley won one of the three Northern Ireland seats. He topped the poll, with 29.8% of the first preference votes.<ref name=cain79>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch79.htm A Chronology of the Conflict – 1979] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206183455/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch79.htm |date=6 December 2010 }}. [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN).</ref> On 17 July, Paisley interrupted the opening proceedings of the European Parliament to protest that the [[Union Jack]] outside the building was flying upside down.<ref name=cain79/> [[Louise Weiss]], who presided over the Parliament, dealt with the interruption swiftly and later said of it that she was used to dealing with "recalcitrant youngsters".<ref><!--http://www.europeanvoice.com/archive/article.asp?id=7892-->[http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/a-number-of-names-worth-remembering-…/37506.aspx A number of names worth remembering ...] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922232418/https://www.politico.eu/ |date=22 September 2021 }}, ''[[European Voice]]'', 26 November 1998</ref> On 18 July, Paisley tried to interrupt [[Jack Lynch]]—then [[Taoiseach]] (Irish prime minister) and [[President of the European Council]]—as he was making a speech in the Parliament. Paisley was shouted down by other MEPs.<ref name=cain79/>

Paisley easily retained his seat in every European election until he stood down in 2004, receiving the highest popular vote of any British MEP (although as Northern Ireland uses a different electoral system from Great Britain for European elections, the figures are not strictly comparable).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3701187.stm |title=BBC 2004 election coverage |work=BBC News |date=1 June 2004 |access-date=19 June 2010 |archive-date=16 July 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040716162244/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3701187.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Third Force===
During 1981, Paisley attempted to create a Protestant loyalist volunteer [[militia]]—called the (Ulster) [[Third Force (Northern Ireland)|Third Force]]—which would work alongside the police and army to fight the IRA. At the time, Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] was holding talks with Taoiseach [[Charles Haughey]], and the [[1981 Irish hunger strike|Irish republican hunger strike]] was underway.

On the night of 6 February 1981, Paisley summoned journalists to a hillside in County Antrim, where he had gathered 500 men. The men were photographed in military formation, waving what purported to be [[Firearms license|firearms certificates]] in the air. Paisley declared: "This is a small token of the men who are placed to devastate any attempt by Margaret Thatcher and Charles Haughey to destroy the Union".<ref>Henry Patterson, Eric P. Kaufmann. ''Unionism and Orangeism in Northern Ireland Since 1945''. Manchester University Press, 2007. p.198-199</ref> He added: "I will take full responsibility for anything these men do. We will stop at nothing."<ref>McKittrick, David. ''Through the Minefield''. Blackstaff Press, 1996. p.46</ref>

Paisley helped organise further night-time rallies on 1 April, where large groups of men brandished more pieces of paper. They were held on hillsides near [[Gortin]], [[Armagh]] and [[Newry]]. At Gortin, the police were attacked and two police vehicles overturned.<ref name=cain81>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch81.htm A Chronology of the Conflict – 1981] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013185917/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch81.htm |date=13 October 2007 }}. [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN).</ref> On 16 November, Paisley addressed a large Third Force rally in [[Enniskillen]], where hundreds of men marched in a show of strength.<ref name=cain81/> Paisley organised a loyalist 'Day of Action' on 23 November, to pressure the British government to take a harder line against the IRA.<ref name=cain81/> Rallies were held in Protestant areas of Northern Ireland and a number of businesses shut. The DUP and UUP held separate rallies at [[Belfast City Hall]].<ref name=cain81/> That night, Paisley addressed a Third Force rally in [[Newtownards]], where thousands of masked and uniformed men marched before him. He declared:<blockquote>My men are ready to be recruited under the crown to destroy the vermin of the IRA. But if they refuse to recruit them, then we will have no other decision to make but to destroy the IRA ourselves!<ref>Hall, Michael. ''The Death of the Peace Process?: A survey of community perceptions''. Island Publications, 1997. p.10</ref></blockquote>

On 3 December, Paisley claimed that the Third Force had 15,000–20,000 members. [[James Prior, Baron Prior|James Prior]], [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]], replied that private armies would not be tolerated.<ref name=cain81/>

In December 1981, the [[State Department of the United States]] revoked Paisley's visa, citing his "divisive rhetoric" and forcing him to cancel plans for a two-week speaking and fundraising tour in the US. He insisted the cancellation was part of a "conspiracy between the Thatcher Government and the U.S.A. Government to sell out Ulster".<ref name="nyt-divisive-rhetoric" >{{cite news|first1=Barbara|last1=Slavin|first2=Milt|last2= Freudenheim|title=THE WORLD IN SUMMARY; U.S. PULLS THE RUG ON PAISLEY|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50810F9395C0C748EDDAB0994D9484D81|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=27 December 1981|page=2|access-date=13 June 2008|format=abstract; fee required}}</ref>

===Campaign against the Anglo-Irish Agreement===
The [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]] was signed by the British and Irish governments on 15 November 1985, following months of talks between the two governments. The Agreement confirmed that there would be no change in the status of Northern Ireland without [[principle of consent|the consent of a majority of its citizens]], and set out conditions for the creation of a power-sharing government for Northern Ireland. It also gave the Irish government an advisory role on political, legal and security matters in Northern Ireland.

Led by Paisley and UUP leader James Molyneaux, unionists mounted a major protest campaign against the Agreement, dubbed "[[Ulster Says No]]". Both unionist parties resigned their seats in the British House of Commons, suspended district council meetings, and supported a campaign of mass [[civil disobedience]]. There were strikes and mass protest rallies. On 23 November 1985, more than 100,000 people attended a rally at Belfast City Hall.<ref name=aia>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/aia/chron.htm Anglo-Irish Agreement – Chronology of Events] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206111841/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/aia/chron.htm |date=6 December 2010 }}. [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN). Retrieved 12 September 2014.</ref> The rally was addressed by Paisley and Molyneaux. In his address, Paisley famously stated:

<blockquote>[[Provisional IRA in the Republic of Ireland|''Where do the terrorists operate from? From the Irish Republic! <br>Where do the terrorists return to for sanctuary? To the Irish Republic!]]<br> 
And yet Mrs Thatcher tells us that that Republic must have some say in our Province.
We say '''''Never! Never! Never! Never!'''''<ref>[http://www.independent.ie/life/flashback-1985-the-signing-of-the-angloirish-agreement-34190246.html Flashback 1985: The signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604095549/http://www.independent.ie/life/flashback-1985-the-signing-of-the-angloirish-agreement-34190246.html |date=4 June 2016 }}, ''[[Irish Independent]]'', 15 November 2015</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YuM7b10iMg&t=47 Rev. Ian Paisley says "Never!"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521221114/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YuM7b10iMg&t=47 |date=21 May 2024 }}, YouTube, 14 April 2022</ref></blockquote>

On 23 June 1986, Paisley and 21 other unionist politicians occupied the [[Parliament Buildings (Northern Ireland)|Stormont Parliament Building]] in protest at the Agreement, while 200 supporters protested outside and clashed with police.<ref name=aia/> Paisley and the others were forcibly removed by police the next day.<ref name=aia/> He shouted at police officers: "Don't come crying to me if your homes are attacked. You will reap what you sow!"<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/24/newsid_2519000/2519077.stm "1986: Ian Paisley's battle cry condemned"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915050955/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/24/newsid_2519000/2519077.stm |date=15 September 2014 }}. BBC: On This Day.</ref> During the campaign against the Agreement, loyalist militants attacked the homes of over 500 police officers, forcing 150 families to move.<ref name=aia/> That evening, he addressed an [[Ulster Clubs]] rally in [[Larne]] and warned:<blockquote>If the British government force us down the road to a [[united Ireland]] we will fight to the death! [...] This could come to hand-to-hand fighting in every street in Northern Ireland. We are on the verge of civil war [...] We are asking people to be ready for the worst and I will lead them.<ref>Cochrane, Feargal. ''Unionist Politics and the Politics of Unionism Since the Anglo-Irish Agreement''. Cork University Press, 1997. p. 154</ref></blockquote> On 10 July, Paisley and deputy DUP leader Peter Robinson led 4,000 loyalists in an early morning protest in which they 'took over' and 'occupied' the town of [[Hillsborough, County Down|Hillsborough]] in protest against the Agreement. [[Hillsborough Castle]] is where the Agreement had been signed.<ref name=aia/> One month later, Robinson led a loyalist [[Clontibret invasion|invasion of the village of Clontibret]] in the Republic of Ireland. Robinson was arrested and charged for his part in the incident. Paisley and many loyalist supporters travelled south to support him during his court appearance in [[Dundalk]]. Their singing of loyalist songs outside the courthouse led to rioting, causing Paisley and Robinson to lodge a formal complaint with the [[Foreign Office]] about what they said was inadequate protection.

On 10 November 1986, a large private rally was held in the [[Ulster Hall]]. At the rally, Paisley and DUP members Peter Robinson and [[Ivan Foster]] announced the formation of the [[Ulster Resistance]] Movement (URM). This was a loyalist paramilitary organisation whose purpose was to "take direct action as and when required" to bring down the Agreement and defeat republicanism.<ref name=cain-u/> Paisley, who stood on the platform in a [[red beret]], said "there are many like myself who'd like to see the Agreement brought down by democratic means, but wouldn't we all be fools if we weren't prepared".<ref>Bruce, Steve. ''The Edge of the Union: The Ulster Loyalist Political Vision''. Oxford University Press, 1994. p. 33</ref> Other recruitment rallies were held in towns across Northern Ireland and the movement was organised into nine 'battalions'.<ref name=cain-u/> The following year, the URM helped smuggle a large shipment of weapons into Northern Ireland, which were shared out between the URM, UVF and UDA. Most, but not all, of the weaponry, was seized by police in 1988. In 1989, URM members attempted to trade [[Short Brothers|Shorts]]' missile blueprints for weapons from the [[apartheid]] South African regime. Following these revelations, the DUP said that it had cut its links with the URM in 1987.<ref>[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/news/a-spectre-from-the-past-back-to-haunt-peace-28401321.html "A spectre from the past back to haunt peace"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613224612/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/news/a-spectre-from-the-past-back-to-haunt-peace-28401321.html |date=13 June 2017 }}. ''Belfast Telegraph''. 10 June 2007.</ref>

On 9 December 1986, Paisley was once again ejected from the [[European Parliament]] for continually interrupting a speech by Margaret Thatcher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.margaretthatcher.org/speeches/displaydocument.asp?docid=106534|title=Speech to European Parliament &#124; Margaret Thatcher Foundation|publisher=Margaretthatcher.org|access-date=16 June 2010|archive-date=5 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105172523/http://www.margaretthatcher.org/speeches/displaydocument.asp?docid=106534|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Drumcree dispute===
Paisley was involved in the [[Drumcree conflict|Drumcree dispute]] during the late 1980s and 1990s. He supported the right of the [[Orange Order]], a Protestant unionist fraternal organisation, to march through the Catholic part of [[Portadown]]. The Catholic residents sought to ban the yearly march from their area, seeing it as [[sectarianism|sectarian]], triumphalist and [[supremacism|supremacist]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/342901.stm "Drumcree tension eases"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908032704/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/342901.stm |date=8 September 2017 }}. ''BBC News''. 13 May 1999.</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120905134042/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/big-changes-in-character-of-drumcree-dispute-437818.html "Big changes in character of Drumcree dispute"]. ''[[Irish Independent]]''. July 1998.</ref> Paisley was a former member of the Orange Order<ref>{{cite book|author1=Wolff, Stefan  |author2=Neuheiser, Jorg|title=Peace at Last?: The Impact of the Good Friday Agreement on Northern Ireland (Studies in Ethnopolitics)|publisher=Berghahn Books|year=2003|page=103|isbn=978-1-57181-518-7}}</ref> and belonged to a similar Protestant brotherhood: the [[Apprentice Boys of Derry|Apprentice Boys]]. He also addressed the yearly gathering of the [[Independent Orange Order]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/10-things-to-know-about-ian-paisley-30582350.html | title=10 Things to Know about Ian Paisley | work=Irish Independent | date=12 September 2014 | access-date=14 September 2014 | author=Whelan, Frank | archive-date=14 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914044318/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/10-things-to-know-about-ian-paisley-30582350.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 30 March 1986, a loyalist march was banned from the Catholic district. At midnight, 3,000 loyalists gathered in the town centre. Led by Paisley, they forced their way past police and marched through the Catholic district. Residents claimed that some of the marchers were carrying guns<ref>Dominic Bryan, T.G. Fraser & Seamus Dunn. ''Political Rituals: Loyalist Parades in Portadown''. [http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/csc/reports/rituals4.htm Part 4: 1985 & 1986] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165500/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/csc/reports/rituals4.htm |date=3 March 2016 }}. [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN)</ref><ref name="Mulholland">Mulholland, Peter. [https://www.scribd.com/doc/26105917/Two-Hundred-Years-in-the-Citadel ''Two-Hundred Years in the Citadel''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102231507/http://www.scribd.com/doc/26105917/Two-Hundred-Years-in-the-Citadel |date=2 November 2012 }}. 2010.</ref> and that police did little to stop the loyalists attacking their homes.<ref name="Mulholland"/> This led to severe rioting between residents and the police.<ref name="Mulholland"/>

In July 1995, residents succeeded in stopping the Orange march from entering their area. Thousands of Orangemen and loyalists engaged in a standoff with the police and army at [[Drumcree Church]]. Paisley addressed a rally at Drumcree, telling a crowd of thousands:<blockquote>We will die if necessary rather than surrender! If we don't win this battle all is lost. It is a matter of life and death; it is a matter of Ulster or the Irish Republic; it is a matter of freedom or slavery!<ref>Cochrane, Feargal. ''Unionist Politics and the Politics of Unionism Since the Anglo-Irish Agreement''. Cork University Press, 1997. p.338</ref></blockquote>

Afterwards, Paisley gathered a throng of Orangemen and tried to push through the police lines, but was arrested.<ref name=drumcree95>{{cite web |url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/parade/develop.htm#1 |title=Events at Drumcree – July 1995 |publisher=[[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN) |access-date=17 September 2014 |archive-date=19 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719030735/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/parade/develop.htm#1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Loyalists threw missiles at the police and tried to break through the blockade; police responded with [[plastic bullet]]s.<ref name=drumcree95/> In support of the Orangeman, loyalists blocked roads across Northern Ireland, and there were attacks on Catholics and the police.<ref name=drumcree95/> The march was eventually allowed to continue through the Catholic area. As the march ended, Paisley and [[David Trimble]] held hands in the air in what appeared to be a gesture of triumph, causing considerable ill-feeling among the Catholic residents.<ref name=drumcree95/>

===Campaign against the Good Friday Agreement===
[[File:President Bill Clinton participates in a meeting with Protestant Religious leader Ian Paisley at Queens University in Belfast.jpg|thumb|right|Paisley with U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]] in 1995]]
Paisley's DUP was initially involved in the negotiations under former [[United States Senator]] [[George J. Mitchell]] that eventually led to the [[Good Friday Agreement]] in 1998, but the party withdrew in protest when Sinn Féin was allowed to participate after the Provisional IRA's 1994 ceasefire.<ref>[http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page7148.asp Press Briefing: 3.45pm Monday 21 February 2005] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526035745/http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page7148.asp |date=26 May 2008 }} 10 Downing Street website.</ref> Instead, Paisley travelled to Cameroon with the documentary filmmaker [[Jon Ronson]], filming an episode of the television series ''Witness'' called "Dr Paisley, I Presume".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/jon-ronson-right-time-to-work-up-a-good-pulpit-sweat-1.1927044|title=Jon Ronson: 'Right. Time to work up a good pulpit sweat'|publisher=Irish Times|author=Jon Ronson|date=12 September 2014|access-date=25 May 2015|archive-date=1 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001155345/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/jon-ronson-right-time-to-work-up-a-good-pulpit-sweat-1.1927044|url-status=live}}</ref> Paisley and his party opposed the Agreement in the referendum that followed its signing, which saw it approved by over 70% of the voters in Northern Ireland and by over 90% of voters in the Republic of Ireland.<ref>[http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fref98.htm The 1998 Referendums] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209230657/http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fref98.htm |date=9 February 2012 }}, ARK. Retrieved 11 February 2012</ref>

Although Paisley often stressed his loyalty to the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|Crown]], he accused [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth]] of being [[Tony Blair]]'s "parrot" when she voiced approval of the Agreement.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/events/northern_ireland/latest_news/100761.stm 'The Queen is a parrot' – Paisley] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105155610/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/events/northern_ireland/latest_news/100761.stm |date=5 November 2012 }}, BBC News, 26 May 1998. Retrieved 11 February 2012</ref>

The DUP fought the resulting election to the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]], to which Paisley was elected while keeping his seats in the Westminster and European parliaments. The DUP took two seats in the multi-party power-sharing executive (Paisley, like the leaders of the nationalist [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] (SDLP) and Sinn Féin chose not to become a minister) but those DUP members serving as ministers ([[Peter Robinson (Northern Ireland politician)|Peter Robinson]] and [[Nigel Dodds]]) refused to attend meetings of the Executive Committee (cabinet) in protest at Sinn Féin's participation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/783228.stm|work=BBC News|title=Sanctions against DUP ministers|date=8 June 2000|access-date=4 May 2010|archive-date=11 June 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030611221041/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/783228.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Paisley assumed the chairmanship of the Agriculture Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly created by the Belfast Agreement. The Minister for Agriculture, the SDLP's [[Bríd Rodgers]], remarked that she and Paisley had a "workmanlike" relationship.<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000205/ai_n14287163 Old hatreds thaw during 61 days of normal politics|Independent, The (London)|Find Articles at BNET.com]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924095207/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000205/ai_n14287163 |date=24 September 2015 }}</ref>

===2000s: compromise and power===
[[File:W. Bush and Martin McGuinness.jpg|thumb|right|Paisley, [[George W. Bush]] and [[Martin McGuinness]] in December 2007]]
[[File:Scottish and Northern Ireland Ministers.jpg|thumb|right|McGuinness, Paisley and Scottish First Minister [[Alex Salmond]] in 2008]]

At the age of 78, Paisley retired from his European Parliament seat at the [[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2004 elections]] and was succeeded by [[Jim Allister]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8044057.stm Who is Jim Allister?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411173654/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8044057.stm |date=11 April 2012 }} BBC News, 8 June 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2012</ref> In September 2004, he agreed to meet Taoiseach [[Bertie Ahern]], in his political capacity as leader of the DUP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/politics/docs/dup/ip300904.htm|title=CAIN: Issues: Politics: Ian Paisley, Statement, Dublin, 30 September 2004|access-date=14 September 2014|archive-date=15 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915030206/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/politics/docs/dup/ip300904.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> At an early meeting with Ahern at the Irish embassy in London, he requested breakfast and asked for boiled eggs; when Ahern asked him why he had wanted boiled eggs, he quipped "it would be hard for you to poison them".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?printerFriendly=true&ArtKey=ballymena|title=EIPS – Dr Paisley Given The Freedom of Ballymena|publisher=Ianpaisley.org|access-date=16 June 2010|archive-date=18 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418143500/http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?printerFriendly=true&ArtKey=ballymena|url-status=live}}</ref> Following rumours and a marked change in his appearance, it was confirmed in July 2004 that Paisley had been undergoing tests for an undisclosed illness, and in 2005 [[Ian Paisley Jr.]] confirmed that his father had been gravely ill. Paisley himself later said that he had "walked in death's shadow."<ref name="bbc_profile_2007">[[Martina Purdy]], [[BBC News]], 1 February 2007, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6289827.stm Profile: Ian Paisley] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430022756/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6289827.stm |date=30 April 2009 }}</ref>

Paisley again retained his [[North Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)|North Antrim]] seat in the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 UK general election]]. In 2005, he was made a [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Counsellor]], an appointment traditionally bestowed upon leaders of political parties in the British Parliament.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4363746.stm "DUP leader to join privy council"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051112051401/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4363746.stm |date=12 November 2005 }}, BBC News, 21 October 2005.</ref> In the October 2006 [[St Andrews Agreement]], Paisley and the DUP agreed to new elections, and support for a new executive including Sinn Féin subject to Sinn Féin acceptance of the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]], the successor to the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/oct/17/northernireland.devolution1 What is the St Andrews agreement?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510144603/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/oct/17/northernireland.devolution1 |date=10 May 2017 }}, The Guardian 17 October 2006</ref> This reversed half a century of opposition to Sinn Féin, such as his comments four months previously on [[The Twelfth|12 July]] in [[Portrush]], following Orange Order parades, when he said, "<nowiki>[Sinn Fein]</nowiki> are not fit to be in partnership with decent people. They are not fit to be in the government of Northern Ireland and it will be over our dead bodies if they ever get there."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/5174000.stm "Belfast march passes peacefully"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908023531/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/5174000.stm |date=8 September 2017 }}, BBC News, 12 July 2006.</ref> Sinn Féin subsequently endorsed the PSNI, and in the [[2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election|subsequent election]] Paisley and the DUP received an increased share of the vote and increased their assembly seats from 30 to 36.<ref>[http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa07.htm Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201224043/http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa07.htm |date=1 December 2011 }}, ARK. Retrieved 11 February 2012</ref> On Monday 26 March 2007, the date of the British Government deadline for devolution or dissolution, Paisley led a DUP delegation to a meeting with a Sinn Féin delegation led by [[Gerry Adams]], which agreed on a DUP proposal that the executive would be established on 8 May.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6494599.stm NI deal struck in historic talks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409111724/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6494599.stm |date=9 April 2020 }}, BBC News, 26 March 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2012</ref>

On 8 May 2007 power was devolved, the Assembly met, and Paisley and Sinn Féin's [[Martin McGuinness]] were elected [[First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland]].

Speaking at Stormont to an invited international audience he said, "Today at long last we are starting upon the road—I emphasise starting—which I believe will take us to lasting peace in our province."<ref name="BBC2">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6636139.stm "Ian Paisley's speech in full"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915233923/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6636139.stm |date=15 September 2007 }}, BBC News, 8 May 2007.</ref> Paisley and McGuinness subsequently established a good working relationship and were dubbed the "Chuckle Brothers" by the Northern Irish media.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6948406.stm "'Chuckle brothers' enjoy 100 days"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121043537/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6948406.stm |date=21 January 2008 }}, BBC News, 15 August 2007.</ref> In September 2007, he confirmed that he would contest North Antrim at the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]] as well as serving the full four years as First Minister, stating "I might as well make hay while the sun shines."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=85024&pt=n |title=Paisley to stand again for election |publisher=UTV |access-date=19 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015233320/http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=85024&pt=n |archive-date=15 October 2007 }}</ref>

In 2007, Paisley was named as "Opposition Parliamentarian of the Year" in [[The House Magazine]] Parliamentary Awards<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6906105.stm |title=BBC Coverage of Paisley winning 'Opposition Parliamentarian of the Year' |work=BBC News |date=19 July 2007 |access-date=7 August 2013 |archive-date=8 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908013341/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6906105.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> and by ''[[The Spectator]]'' as "Marathon Man of the Year."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2007/11/the-winners/|title=The Winners|work=[[The Spectator]]|date=15 November 2007|access-date=25 November 2014|archive-date=24 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224144012/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2007/11/the-winners/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following his January 2008 retirement as leader of the Free Presbyterian Church and pressure from party insiders, on 4 March 2008, Paisley announced that he would stand down as DUP leader and First Minister of Northern Ireland in May 2008.<ref name="BBC-quit" /> On 17 April, Peter Robinson was elected unopposed as leader of the DUP<ref name="BBC-Robinson-leader" >{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7353569.stm|title=Robinson confirmed as DUP leader|date=17 April 2008|work=BBC News|access-date=17 April 2008|archive-date=21 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421144245/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7353569.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and succeeded Paisley as First Minister at a special sitting of the assembly on 5 June 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=Robinson is new NI first minister|work=BBC News|date=5 June 2008|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7438306.stm|access-date=23 May 2009|archive-date=7 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107032131/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7438306.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> On 2 March 2010, it was announced that Paisley would step down as a Member of Parliament at that year's general election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7046340.ece|title=Ian Paisley to step down from North Antrim seat after 40 years as MP|date=2 March 2010|access-date=2 March 2010|location=London|first=David|last=Sharrock|work=The Times|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922232400/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref> His son Ian Paisley Jr. was elected to succeed him in the seat at the general election on 6 May 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/northern_ireland/8649051.stm|title=Antrim North: Paisley Jnr sees off Jim Allister|date=7 May 2010|work=2010 Election|publisher=BBC|access-date=22 January 2012|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922232400/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/northern_ireland/8649051.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 18 June 2010, Paisley was created a [[life peer]] as '''''Baron Bannside''', of North Antrim in the County of Antrim'', and he was introduced in the [[House of Lords]] on 5 July 2010.<ref name="Gazette"/><ref>[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/minutes/100622/ldordpap.htm House of Lords Business, 22 June 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418175526/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/minutes/100622/ldordpap.htm |date=18 April 2021 }} <!-- Holding ref. More precise refs will be provided as they become available. --></ref> [[Bannside (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)|Bannside]] was the [[Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies|Northern Ireland Parliament constituency]] Paisley had won in 1970; he opted not to take the title of "Lord Paisley" as his wife was already in the House as [[Eileen Paisley, Baroness Paisley of St George's|Baroness Paisley]] and he said that it would have implied she was "sitting not in her own right but as my wife".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/paisley-to-be-called-lord-bannside-1-1848617|title=Paisley to be called Lord Bannside|access-date=17 April 2017|archive-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418082849/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/paisley-to-be-called-lord-bannside-1-1848617|url-status=live}}</ref>