Ian Gow

There is a need to challenge the increasingly toxic and coarsened culture of politics in the UK and beyond

State Papers: British feared IRA could continue campaign of violence indefinitely

Documentary by former UK minister examines War of Independence from Britain’s point of view

State Papers: Haughey and Thatcher only held one hour of discussions in the year

MP later killed by IRA thought unionism ‘weak’ and Haughey’s tactics admirable

State Papers 1988: Michael Havers said he ‘cannot explain’ the outburst after operation

State Papers: 1987 files describe mission to promote Anglo-Irish Agreement

State Papers 1986: diplomat Richard Ryan and two Tories talked politics over port

State Papers 1986: the year after agreement was signed relations remained complex