1895 vote of no confidence against the government of the Earl of Rosebery
Encyclopedia
The vote of no confidence against the government of the Earl of Rosebery of 21 June 1895, also known as the Cordite vote, was the occasion on which the Liberal
Government of the Earl of Rosebery
was defeated in a vote of censure by the House of Commons
. The motion was to reduce the salary of the Secretary of State for War as a censure over deficient supply of cordite
to the Army
, and when it was passed the Secretary of State Henry Campbell Bannerman offered his resignation. As Campbell Bannerman was the most popular Minister in a Government which was suffering internal division and whose members had grown tired of office, the Government chose to interpret the issue as one involving confidence in the Government and therefore resigned. The incoming Conservative government soon sought a dissolution of Parliament and won the ensuing general election
. The vote is the last time in the History of the British Parliament that that a government has been defeated on a confidence motion when it had a workable majority.
had become Prime Minister
in March 1894, following William Ewart Gladstone
's resignation, being the personal choice of Queen Victoria. Rosebery was told by the Queen's emissary (her physician, Sir James Reid) that he was "the only man of your party she likes and trusts". His choice over several other men with larger followings in the party, particularly Sir William Harcourt
and John Morley
led to inevitable tension, and Harcourt in particular did nothing to help the Government out of its difficulties. The Government was dependent on the Irish Parliamentary Party
for its majority in the House of Commons
, but could offer them little towards their goals as Gladstone's Second Home Rule Bill
had been defeated by the House of Lords
in 1893.
was a new form of explosive which had only come into use a few years before 1895, and the Army was in the process of equipping with it. In the Army Estimates for 1895, Secretary of State for War
Henry Campbell Bannerman reported that new barrels for the Army's .303 rifles which were suitable for cordite bullets were being fitted, but that "it is unnecessary at present to provide for more than a liberally estimated supply for one year". The Conservative frontbench had been assured privately that there were adequate supplies, and cordite could be manufactured quickly, but the party chose to raise the issue in the House of Commons on 21 June when the Army Estimates came up for debate.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Government of the Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, KG, PC was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister. Between the death of his father, in 1851, and the death of his grandfather, the 4th Earl, in 1868, he was known by the courtesy title of Lord Dalmeny.Rosebery was a Liberal Imperialist who...
was defeated in a vote of censure by the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
. The motion was to reduce the salary of the Secretary of State for War as a censure over deficient supply of cordite
Cordite
Cordite is a family of smokeless propellants developed and produced in the United Kingdom from 1889 to replace gunpowder as a military propellant. Like gunpowder, cordite is classified as a low explosive because of its slow burning rates and consequently low brisance...
to the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, and when it was passed the Secretary of State Henry Campbell Bannerman offered his resignation. As Campbell Bannerman was the most popular Minister in a Government which was suffering internal division and whose members had grown tired of office, the Government chose to interpret the issue as one involving confidence in the Government and therefore resigned. The incoming Conservative government soon sought a dissolution of Parliament and won the ensuing general election
United Kingdom general election, 1895
The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery...
. The vote is the last time in the History of the British Parliament that that a government has been defeated on a confidence motion when it had a workable majority.
Background
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of RoseberyArchibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, KG, PC was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister. Between the death of his father, in 1851, and the death of his grandfather, the 4th Earl, in 1868, he was known by the courtesy title of Lord Dalmeny.Rosebery was a Liberal Imperialist who...
had become Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
in March 1894, following William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
's resignation, being the personal choice of Queen Victoria. Rosebery was told by the Queen's emissary (her physician, Sir James Reid) that he was "the only man of your party she likes and trusts". His choice over several other men with larger followings in the party, particularly Sir William Harcourt
William Vernon Harcourt (politician)
Sir William George Granville Venables Vernon Harcourt was a British lawyer, journalist and Liberal statesman. He served as Member of Parliament for various constituencies and held the offices of Home Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer under William Ewart Gladstone before becoming Leader of...
and John Morley
John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn
John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn OM, PC was a British Liberal statesman, writer and newspaper editor. Initially a journalist, he was elected a Member of Parliament in 1883...
led to inevitable tension, and Harcourt in particular did nothing to help the Government out of its difficulties. The Government was dependent on the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
for its majority in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
, but could offer them little towards their goals as Gladstone's Second Home Rule Bill
Irish Government Bill 1893
The Government of Ireland Bill 1893 was the second attempt made by William Ewart Gladstone, as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to enact a system of home rule for Ireland...
had been defeated by the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
in 1893.
Cordite
CorditeCordite
Cordite is a family of smokeless propellants developed and produced in the United Kingdom from 1889 to replace gunpowder as a military propellant. Like gunpowder, cordite is classified as a low explosive because of its slow burning rates and consequently low brisance...
was a new form of explosive which had only come into use a few years before 1895, and the Army was in the process of equipping with it. In the Army Estimates for 1895, Secretary of State for War
Secretary of State for War
The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas . In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854...
Henry Campbell Bannerman reported that new barrels for the Army's .303 rifles which were suitable for cordite bullets were being fitted, but that "it is unnecessary at present to provide for more than a liberally estimated supply for one year". The Conservative frontbench had been assured privately that there were adequate supplies, and cordite could be manufactured quickly, but the party chose to raise the issue in the House of Commons on 21 June when the Army Estimates came up for debate.