PARLIAMENTARY REFORM IN THE ERA OF GLADSTONE AND DISRAELI OWED MORE TO POLITICAL MANOEUVRING THAN PRINCIPLE. (EXPEDIENCY VS PRINCIPLE)

Image and reality

• Disraeli became associated with ‘Tory democracy’

• Gladstone became champion of popular rights – moral sense of the masses over aristocratic establishment

• Disraeli led Conservatives in Commons – second in command to Earl of Derby.

• Gladstone moved from Conservatives to Liberals – leader in commons

The Political Context

• Politicians operated within framework of 1832 Reform Act –

• Collapse of Chartism 1840’s – but w/c reform still on the agenda.

• Debate about how far to extend franchise.

Conservative calculations

• Maintenance of aristo government a primary concern for Disraeli. Held trad. view of politics.

• Larger boroughs would remain Liberals – Conservatives would hold counties.

• FB Smith says D. indifferent to enfranchisement of workers. Wanted to see boundaries of borough seats extended to suburban areas so Liberal voters would not influence county constituencies.

• 1867 Act gave 25 seats to counties.

• D. approached reform determined to further Con party interests

• D wanted as small a measure as he could get away with – eg 1859 Bill = ’partisan fiddling’

• 1867 was radical but it was not original intention.• Dis and Derby seized upon household suffrage to

differentiate their bill from Libs 1866 Bill. – excluded compounders.

• Bill transformed because of situation in the commons and Hyde Park Riots

• FB Smith (Historian) said popular activity persuaded Con MP’s to accept the measure.

• Cowling (Historian) downplays role of agitation.• Pragmatism persuaded Disraeli to pass a more radical

bill. This would bring Radical Liberals from Liberal party to vote with Cons.

Gladstonian principle and Pragmatism

• Gladstone has been seen as more principled than Dis on reform. Is this true?

• Until 1860’s he was against changes to elec system.• Changed views in 1864. – ‘respectable skilled working

class were demonstrating worthy qualities. And could be entrusted with political responsibility.’

• Gladstone idealised upwardly mobile charac of working man. But did not want full-scale democracy.

• 1866 Lib Bill wanted £7 annual rental voters. No further or it would give town constituencies to ‘working class.

• Gladstone similar to Dis over concern with party management.

• Probs with Adullamites over 1866 lib Bill and with radicals over 1867 Bill.

Conclusion

• Quinault (historian) says Gladstone was Radical and did favour democracy BUT he wanted a decisive resolution of a controversial question. Agrees with Shannon (Historian) who depicts Gladstone as a politician who sought to harness public support for his own style of Government.

• Both Glad and Dis nervous of working class enfranchisement.

• Both believed in govt by propertied elite and avoid mass democracy.

• The conflict between them was more about personal and party rivalry than fundamental philosophical differences.