Assess the reasons why Gladstone lost the election of 1874.

... Assess the reasons why Gladstone lost the election of 1874. In 1874 Gladstone and the Liberals lost the general election with 242 seats to 352 for the conservatives - the defeat was a decisive one. There are many reasons for this landslide victory for the conservatives but Gladston lost the general election primarily because of problems within the liberal party itself and the alienation of large sections of the electorate, to add to this Disraeli effectively exploited the government's 'achilles heel' and caught the public mood by the skill of his attack on the government. In 1873 Gladstone attempted to resign over the Irish Universities Bill, Disraeli however was not tempted to lead a minority government and tactically, Disraeli's refusal to take office allowed the Liberal government to disintergrate between March 1873 and February 1974 making Disraeli's chance of electoral victory more secure. However the foundations for Disraeli's success had been laid

want to read more? →