The Peel Web

I am happy that you are using this web site and hope that you found it useful. Unfortunately, the cost of making this material freely available is increasing, so if you have found the site useful and would like to contribute towards its continuation, I would greatly appreciate it. Click the button to go to Paypal and make a donation.

A Leap in the Dark (1867)

"Punch, or the London Charivari", August 3, 1867

This cartoon shows Britannia, mounted on a horse whic has Disraeli's face, shielding her eyes as the horse jumps into the unknown 'Reform'. Behind her, John Bright, Gladstone and Lord Derby can be seen pulling up short of the hazard. On 15 July 1867, Disraeli's Reform Bill received its third reading in the House. There was again opposition from the usual quarters, including the Liberal MP, Mr Robert Lowe, who had been instrumental in bringing down his own party on this issue. Gladstone did not speak in this debate, but he had nonetheless been active in transforming the original plans put forward by the Conservatives. The Reform Act gave household suffrage to boroughs, brought the county franchise down to £12, gave votes to lodgers and broadened the scope of the plannedredistribution of seats. Disraeli himself described the Bill as 'A Leap in the Dark'.