Why did the Conservatives dominate in the period 1885-1905? Why do the liberal
party struggle politically in the period?
The reasons behind Conservative dominance, and indeed Liberal struggles, in the period
was due to numerous factors.
● Liberal struggles.
● Strong Conservative leadership (Lord Salisbury).
● Electoral trends.
● Party organisation.
● Role of the Liberal Unionists.
● Conservative legislation.
● Imperialism.
The Liberal Struggle - 1886-92:
Gladstone’s determination for Irish Home Rule led to a split in the Liberal Party in 1886, as
key figures such as Joseph Chamberlain and Lord Hartington split to form the Liberal
Unionists. Any attempts at reconciliation failed. Despite this, the Liberals still achieved some
success in the 1892 election. They won 272 seats, more than any other party. However, a
combined Conservative (268 seats) and Liberal Unionist (45 seats) coalition of 313 seats
outweighed this. Only support from the Irish Nationalist Party, contributing an additional 81
seats, allowed them to govern. Heavily reliant on the INP, the Liberals were committed to
Irish Home Rule in the 1892 election. The ‘Newcastle Programme’ was Gladstone’s attempt
to ensure party unity, appeasing the radical Liberals last in the party. It entailed:
● Irish Home Rule (Gladstone’s “mission to pacify Ireland”).
● Compulsory land purchase for allotments.
● Tougher regulations controlling workplace health and safety.
● Greater employer liability for workplace accidents.
● More limitations for the length of the working day.
● Reference to greater democracy (one man one vote, reform of the House of Lords,
more democratic local government, payment for MPs, etc).
After Gladstone’s retirement, a clear split emerged as there was no clear replacement.
Eventually the Earl of Rosebery replaced him, lasting from March 1894 to June 1895.
Roesbery was a Liberal imperialist, intellectually brilliant but arrogant. He inherited a divided
cabinet that defeated his imperialist foreign policy, and faced an obstructive Tory-dominated
House of Lords. He resigned as PM after losing a Bill at Committee Stage and resigned as
Liberal Leader after losing the July 1895 election.
Conservative leadership by Lord Salisbury:
Salisbury took up leadership of the party in 1881 after Disraeli’s death, and lasted until his
resignation in 1902. He served as Prime Minister from June 1885 to January 1886, from July
1886 to July 1892, and finally from 1895 to 1902. He was a pragmatic but strong leader, who
used the Liberal split to his advantage. He included the Liberal Unionists in his 1895 coalition
government, despite having a small majority. This strengthened the Conservative position
and eventually led to their merger in 1912. He used Richard Middleton’s organisational skills
, to win elections. He used the Boer War (1899-1902) and the spike in patriotism in the 1900
‘Khaki’ election. After his retirement, the Conservative party's electoral dominance crumbled.
Changing electoral trends:
The issue of Home Rule split the Liberals, as Gladstone pushed ahead and - without
consulting his party - declared his intentions to grant Home Rule in the Hawarden Kite leak
in December 1885. This angered influential liberals such as Joseph Chamberlain, George
Trevalyan, and Lord Hartington. Many Liberals had personal financial holdings in Ireland and
Chamberlain advocated for social reform, rather than Home rule. There was also concern
that this could lead to the breakup of the Empire. The Liberals lost many MPs, and the
wealth that they brought, as they split to form the Liberal Unionists. This hampered the ability
of the Liberal Party to campaign effectively. The House of Lords also became increasingly
unionist. Despite Gladstons passing the second Home Rule Bill in the Commons in 1892, the
Lord rejected it by 419 to 41 votes.
Wealthier middle-class groups, like industrialists and professionals, shifter towards the
Conservatives. This was partly due to concern over Gladstone’s social reforms, leading to
‘villa Toryism’. However the Liberals still held support from nonconformist middle class
voters. Lower middle classes like shopkeepers and clerks had the most floating voters,
frequently changing political allegiance. The working class, enfranchised in 1867 and 1884,
largely votes conservative due to deference for the upper classes, patriotism and
imperialism, and anti Irish sentiment. The vote of the working class remained relatively
uncertain with the expanding franchise.
Party organisation:
The Conservatives adapted well to the expanding franchise and redistribution of seats. The
party's strong organisation ensured disciplined MPs, with figures like Chief Whip
Akers-Douglas keeping the PM informed. Richard Middleton, the Chief Agent, managed
voter registration drives, propaganda, fundraising, and gathered opinions from
constituencies. The Primrose League, founded in 1883, promoted Disraeli’s conservatism
(religion, aristocracy, the estates of the realm, and imperialism). Its membership grew from
237,000 in 1886, to 1 million in 1891, and to 2 million by 1910. The League played a key role
in elections, organising canvassing and keeping voter lists up to date, and ensuring voters
got to polling booths on time. Women played a significant role.
The role of the Liberal Unionists:
The Liberal Unionists, formed from the radical and conservative wing of the Liberal Party,
were united by their desire to maintain the union, which outweighed internal differences. In
the 1892 election, their coalition with the Conservatives secured 313 seats combined (268
Conservative, 45 Liberal Unionist), more than the Liberals 272 seats. Chamberlain strongly
supported further reforms within the Conservatives. In the 1895 election, Salisbury won 411
seats, including 71 from the Liberal Unionists. This soundly beat the Liberals who only had
177. Despite not needing the LIberal Unionists in coalition, Salisbury maintained it, keeping
Chamberlain as Colonial Secretary and ensuring continued collaboration in Cabinet. The
Liberal Unionists and Conservatives eventually merged in 1912.
party struggle politically in the period?
The reasons behind Conservative dominance, and indeed Liberal struggles, in the period
was due to numerous factors.
● Liberal struggles.
● Strong Conservative leadership (Lord Salisbury).
● Electoral trends.
● Party organisation.
● Role of the Liberal Unionists.
● Conservative legislation.
● Imperialism.
The Liberal Struggle - 1886-92:
Gladstone’s determination for Irish Home Rule led to a split in the Liberal Party in 1886, as
key figures such as Joseph Chamberlain and Lord Hartington split to form the Liberal
Unionists. Any attempts at reconciliation failed. Despite this, the Liberals still achieved some
success in the 1892 election. They won 272 seats, more than any other party. However, a
combined Conservative (268 seats) and Liberal Unionist (45 seats) coalition of 313 seats
outweighed this. Only support from the Irish Nationalist Party, contributing an additional 81
seats, allowed them to govern. Heavily reliant on the INP, the Liberals were committed to
Irish Home Rule in the 1892 election. The ‘Newcastle Programme’ was Gladstone’s attempt
to ensure party unity, appeasing the radical Liberals last in the party. It entailed:
● Irish Home Rule (Gladstone’s “mission to pacify Ireland”).
● Compulsory land purchase for allotments.
● Tougher regulations controlling workplace health and safety.
● Greater employer liability for workplace accidents.
● More limitations for the length of the working day.
● Reference to greater democracy (one man one vote, reform of the House of Lords,
more democratic local government, payment for MPs, etc).
After Gladstone’s retirement, a clear split emerged as there was no clear replacement.
Eventually the Earl of Rosebery replaced him, lasting from March 1894 to June 1895.
Roesbery was a Liberal imperialist, intellectually brilliant but arrogant. He inherited a divided
cabinet that defeated his imperialist foreign policy, and faced an obstructive Tory-dominated
House of Lords. He resigned as PM after losing a Bill at Committee Stage and resigned as
Liberal Leader after losing the July 1895 election.
Conservative leadership by Lord Salisbury:
Salisbury took up leadership of the party in 1881 after Disraeli’s death, and lasted until his
resignation in 1902. He served as Prime Minister from June 1885 to January 1886, from July
1886 to July 1892, and finally from 1895 to 1902. He was a pragmatic but strong leader, who
used the Liberal split to his advantage. He included the Liberal Unionists in his 1895 coalition
government, despite having a small majority. This strengthened the Conservative position
and eventually led to their merger in 1912. He used Richard Middleton’s organisational skills
, to win elections. He used the Boer War (1899-1902) and the spike in patriotism in the 1900
‘Khaki’ election. After his retirement, the Conservative party's electoral dominance crumbled.
Changing electoral trends:
The issue of Home Rule split the Liberals, as Gladstone pushed ahead and - without
consulting his party - declared his intentions to grant Home Rule in the Hawarden Kite leak
in December 1885. This angered influential liberals such as Joseph Chamberlain, George
Trevalyan, and Lord Hartington. Many Liberals had personal financial holdings in Ireland and
Chamberlain advocated for social reform, rather than Home rule. There was also concern
that this could lead to the breakup of the Empire. The Liberals lost many MPs, and the
wealth that they brought, as they split to form the Liberal Unionists. This hampered the ability
of the Liberal Party to campaign effectively. The House of Lords also became increasingly
unionist. Despite Gladstons passing the second Home Rule Bill in the Commons in 1892, the
Lord rejected it by 419 to 41 votes.
Wealthier middle-class groups, like industrialists and professionals, shifter towards the
Conservatives. This was partly due to concern over Gladstone’s social reforms, leading to
‘villa Toryism’. However the Liberals still held support from nonconformist middle class
voters. Lower middle classes like shopkeepers and clerks had the most floating voters,
frequently changing political allegiance. The working class, enfranchised in 1867 and 1884,
largely votes conservative due to deference for the upper classes, patriotism and
imperialism, and anti Irish sentiment. The vote of the working class remained relatively
uncertain with the expanding franchise.
Party organisation:
The Conservatives adapted well to the expanding franchise and redistribution of seats. The
party's strong organisation ensured disciplined MPs, with figures like Chief Whip
Akers-Douglas keeping the PM informed. Richard Middleton, the Chief Agent, managed
voter registration drives, propaganda, fundraising, and gathered opinions from
constituencies. The Primrose League, founded in 1883, promoted Disraeli’s conservatism
(religion, aristocracy, the estates of the realm, and imperialism). Its membership grew from
237,000 in 1886, to 1 million in 1891, and to 2 million by 1910. The League played a key role
in elections, organising canvassing and keeping voter lists up to date, and ensuring voters
got to polling booths on time. Women played a significant role.
The role of the Liberal Unionists:
The Liberal Unionists, formed from the radical and conservative wing of the Liberal Party,
were united by their desire to maintain the union, which outweighed internal differences. In
the 1892 election, their coalition with the Conservatives secured 313 seats combined (268
Conservative, 45 Liberal Unionist), more than the Liberals 272 seats. Chamberlain strongly
supported further reforms within the Conservatives. In the 1895 election, Salisbury won 411
seats, including 71 from the Liberal Unionists. This soundly beat the Liberals who only had
177. Despite not needing the LIberal Unionists in coalition, Salisbury maintained it, keeping
Chamberlain as Colonial Secretary and ensuring continued collaboration in Cabinet. The
Liberal Unionists and Conservatives eventually merged in 1912.
