The National Archives: What led to the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement?

The most important factor that led to the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement was David Trimble’s leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party. Trimble led a naturally conservative force to embrace an accord which involved a share in government for Sinn Féin, a party which unionists regarded as spokespersons for a terrorist campaign that accounted for over sixty per cent of deaths during the Troubles.