Politics 1886-1914
In the election that followed Gladstone 1st home rule bill, the
conservatives won a clear majority especially with the support of the
79 liberal unionists
Sailsbury gathered an intellectually indifferent cabinet save for
Randolph Churchill who became leader of the commons a few months
later
The conservatives remained in office until 1905 except for a brief
interlude in 1892-94
In 1895 the conservatives won with a huge majority of 341 seats over
177 liberals, the unionists won 70 seats and the Irish nationalists won
82 seats
However, by 1905 there were divisions in the conservative party over
tariff reform and about Balfour
Reasons for conservative dominance
Divisions in the Liberal party not only did it lose the support of the
liberal unionists but it strengthened the conservative position and left
the Liberals weakened
Middle class support – in 1865 no conservatives had been returned to
London but in 1900 67 out of the 75 London seats were taken by taken
by Tories
Attitudes towards imperialism – the conservatives trumpeted the “age
of imperialism” and had much more national pride than the Liberals
Improved party organisation- Richard Middelton improved Sailsbury’s
timings of elections as well as increasing their number of constituency
and organising them into a regional basis
Conservative social reform – Sailsbury's package of reform was better
than that offered by Gladstone
The conservative party won another huge election in 1900 possibly on
the wave of patriotism brought on by the Boer war which gave it the
nickname the “khaki election”
In 1902 Sailsbury gave up office through ill health and gave it to
Balfour who was aloof with the people
, Balfour's policy decision on tariff reform and social reform lacked
substance and so it was clear he would lose the 1905 election so
instead he resigned
By 1886 Gladstone had been the leader of the Liberals for 20 years
and his power was declining
His antics over home rule caused a split in 1886 and this also led him
to not introduce any meaningful social reform
Causes of the Liberal split
Home rule- Gladstone's conversion to home rule led people such as
Josheph Chamberlin who was Gladstone “heir apparent” to leave the
party as well as the secretary for India Lord Hartington. Though
Chamberlin originally held himself separate from the Liberal unionists
but in 1895 they were absorbed into the conservative party.
Divisions over social reform- ideological tensions were rising between
the radicals and the laissez faire liberals, Chamberlin believed that
Gladstone was out of touch and that the time was ripe for a welfare
policy to stop poverty in Britain
Attitudes to imperialism- Imperialism was a popular sentiment in the
1880’s but though some groups inside the Liberals agreed with this
such as Lord Roseberry, the anti-imperialists clashed, and it led to
soured relationships within the party
Personal tensions – The animosity between Gladstone and Chamberlin
came about also Gladstone was perhaps afraid of Chamberlin trying to
usurp him and didn’t give him a goof cabinet position or take him into
confidence over home rule
The unofficial programme
Before the 1885 election Chamberlin put together a programme of
radical reform which won the votes of the working class
This helped to secure a liberal election victory
He feared that his plan which included graduated income tax, payment
of MP’s and free education would be sidelined with the introduction of
home rule
In the election that followed Gladstone 1st home rule bill, the
conservatives won a clear majority especially with the support of the
79 liberal unionists
Sailsbury gathered an intellectually indifferent cabinet save for
Randolph Churchill who became leader of the commons a few months
later
The conservatives remained in office until 1905 except for a brief
interlude in 1892-94
In 1895 the conservatives won with a huge majority of 341 seats over
177 liberals, the unionists won 70 seats and the Irish nationalists won
82 seats
However, by 1905 there were divisions in the conservative party over
tariff reform and about Balfour
Reasons for conservative dominance
Divisions in the Liberal party not only did it lose the support of the
liberal unionists but it strengthened the conservative position and left
the Liberals weakened
Middle class support – in 1865 no conservatives had been returned to
London but in 1900 67 out of the 75 London seats were taken by taken
by Tories
Attitudes towards imperialism – the conservatives trumpeted the “age
of imperialism” and had much more national pride than the Liberals
Improved party organisation- Richard Middelton improved Sailsbury’s
timings of elections as well as increasing their number of constituency
and organising them into a regional basis
Conservative social reform – Sailsbury's package of reform was better
than that offered by Gladstone
The conservative party won another huge election in 1900 possibly on
the wave of patriotism brought on by the Boer war which gave it the
nickname the “khaki election”
In 1902 Sailsbury gave up office through ill health and gave it to
Balfour who was aloof with the people
, Balfour's policy decision on tariff reform and social reform lacked
substance and so it was clear he would lose the 1905 election so
instead he resigned
By 1886 Gladstone had been the leader of the Liberals for 20 years
and his power was declining
His antics over home rule caused a split in 1886 and this also led him
to not introduce any meaningful social reform
Causes of the Liberal split
Home rule- Gladstone's conversion to home rule led people such as
Josheph Chamberlin who was Gladstone “heir apparent” to leave the
party as well as the secretary for India Lord Hartington. Though
Chamberlin originally held himself separate from the Liberal unionists
but in 1895 they were absorbed into the conservative party.
Divisions over social reform- ideological tensions were rising between
the radicals and the laissez faire liberals, Chamberlin believed that
Gladstone was out of touch and that the time was ripe for a welfare
policy to stop poverty in Britain
Attitudes to imperialism- Imperialism was a popular sentiment in the
1880’s but though some groups inside the Liberals agreed with this
such as Lord Roseberry, the anti-imperialists clashed, and it led to
soured relationships within the party
Personal tensions – The animosity between Gladstone and Chamberlin
came about also Gladstone was perhaps afraid of Chamberlin trying to
usurp him and didn’t give him a goof cabinet position or take him into
confidence over home rule
The unofficial programme
Before the 1885 election Chamberlin put together a programme of
radical reform which won the votes of the working class
This helped to secure a liberal election victory
He feared that his plan which included graduated income tax, payment
of MP’s and free education would be sidelined with the introduction of
home rule
