The Aberdeen Coalition 1852-1855

This book examines the Aberdeen Administration of 1852-1855 in detail in order to clarify the complicated subject of party relationships in mid-nineteenth-century British politics and the operation of the British parliamentary system at that time. Its interest centres on the role of the Peelites in the Coalition as a stage in the evolution of the Gladstonian Liberal party. The author describes the formation of the Coalition, the Cabinet membership and the legislative achievements of 1853 Gladstone’s famous Budget settling the issue of the Income Tax, the now forgotten India Act and valuable reform legislation. The success of 1853 is contrasted with the failure of 1854. The author describes the routine problems that faced all ministries, the endless parliamentary wrangles over religion and Ireland, the colourful contributions to debate by such eccentrics as Colonel Sibthorpe, the problems of patronage, and the relations between the Prime Minister and the Queen.