Image and reality

1. Parliamentary Reform in the Era of Gladstone and Disraeli owed more to political manoeuvring than principle. (Expediency vs Principle)

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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 Adullamitesover 1866 lib Bill and with radicals over 1867 Bill.

7. 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.