{"title":"Kenneth Bloomfield","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"tragedy-of-errors-book-kenneth-bloomfield-9781846310645","title":"A Tragedy of Errors","description":"In this timely new book Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, former Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, explores a number of crucial questions in the immediate aftermath of PIRA decommissioning and attempts to re-activate the political process in Northern Ireland. Was it inevitable that Northern Ireland should undergo some three decades of costly violence? What, in truth, were those costs? Might the descent into catastrophe have been delayed or even averted if the main 'actors' (defined as the parliament and government of the United Kingdom, the political parties and institutions operating within Northern Ireland since 1920, and the parties and institutions of the Irish Free State and Republic) had done things they ought to have done, or left undone things they ought not to have done? Are the 'political process' and the 'peace process' the same thing, and indeed how is 'peace' to be defined? The book places particular emphasis throughout on the continuing overriding responsibility of the parliament and government of the United Kingdom for the 'peace, order and good government' of a part of that Kingdom even when exercising devolved powers of government. It also illustrates the unwisdom and ungenerosity of much 'Stormont' policy, and explores the failure of the Free State and its successor to present itself as friend and suitor rather than threat. The book concludes by pointing out that, although mainstream terrorism has been throttled back, part of the cost has been the movement of electoral support away from moderation and towards the more militant wings of unionism and republicanism.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49539487990033,"sku":"GOR005612879","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49642205905169,"sku":"GOR013466852","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1846310644.jpg?v=1750898866"},{"product_id":"bbc-at-the-watershed-book-kenneth-bloomfield-9781846311604","title":"The BBC at the Watershed","description":"On 12 September 1988 the BBC news carried the story of the attempted assassination of Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, then Head of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland. In the aftermath of this event Gerry Adams used the media to warn all other Civil Service 'collaborators' that they were under threat from the IRA. In response Margaret Thatcher introduced the broadcasting ban, ensuring that terrorists were unable to freely articulate threats through the British media. Though the ban was not advocated by Ken Bloomfield, this event provided his first major role in the contemporary history of the BBC.From 1927-2007 the Board of Governors of the BBC regulated the Corporation and represented the public in its management. Ken Bloomfield served as Regional Governor for Northern Ireland, Head of the BBC Audit Committee, and Chair of the Northern Ireland Broadcasting Council from 1991-1999, one of the longest terms in that position. During this time he brought considerable political and managerial experience to the Corporation in a period of uncertainty and change, presiding over a challenging period within Northern Ireland but also within at least two revolutions within the BBC. Bloomfield was the only Governor to serve on the Board through the entire period from John Birt's accession to the Director Generalship to the choice of Greg Dyke to succeed him. He offers critical judgements on the Birt and Dyke regimes, and on the Hutton Inquiry and events leading up to and following it. He expresses regret at the replacement of Governors by a Trust and examines the challenges facing the Corporation today.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49595950399761,"sku":"GOR009607642","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1846311608.jpg?v=1751091671"},{"product_id":"new-life-book-kenneth-bloomfield-9781905474264","title":"A New Life","description":null,"brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49614432534801,"sku":"GOR001834663","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49665176830225,"sku":"GOR002012675","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1905474261.jpg?v=1751250606"},{"product_id":"a-tragedy-of-errors-the-government-and-misgovernment-of-northern-ireland-rare-book-kenneth-bloomfield-1719836024mha","title":"A Tragedy of Errors: The Government and Misgovernment of Northern Ireland","description":"2007. First Edition. 275 pages. Signed by the author. Pictorial dust jacket over black cloth boards. Gilt lettering. Signed by the author with dedication to Elina on title page. Pages are bright and c","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50092541018385,"sku":"1719836024MHA","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1719836024MHA_1.jpg?v=1722947297"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/en-ie\/collections\/author-books-by-kenneth-bloomfield.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}