Conversation so far:
What did Tony Benn do in 1997?
In 1997, the Labour Party under the leadership of Tony Blair won the general election. Benn was initially somewhat sympathetic to Blair, welcoming a change of government.
What change of government happened in the UK in 1997?
[Blair] set up a new political party, New Labour“.
Why did Tony Blair set up a new political party?
Tony Blair won the general election in a landslide, after 18 years of Conservative Party rule.
What else did Tony Benn do in 1997?
Benn welcomed the progress towards peace and security in Northern Ireland.

Question: What was happening in Northern Ireland?
Self-contained rewrite: What was happening in Northern Ireland in the 1990s?