Independent Irish Party
Encyclopedia
The Independent Irish Party (1852-1858) was an Irish
political party founded in July 1852 by 40 Liberal Irish MPs
who had been elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
. It is sometimes mentioned as the Irish Independent Opposition Party, and colloquially known as the Pope’s Brass Band because of their stance on the Ecclesiastical Titles Act. Its MPs were also called the "Irish Brigade".
It had two central aims:
The Independent Irish Party initially achieved the balance of power in the House of Commons. It brought down Lord Derby's Tory
ministry and enabled the leader of the Peelites Lord Aberdeen and Whigs
to form a coalition
government. However two Irish MPs, John Sadleir
and William Keogh
then broke ranks by joining this ministry, an act for which they were never forgiven in Ireland, where they were remembered with contempt a century later.
Some but not all Irish Liberal candidates in the 1852 election had pledged themselves to form an independent party in Parliament
. This was done in their election address or at two conferences in 1852, one held by the Tenants League and the other about Religious Equality. 48 Irish MPs were elected after making such a pledge. One was unseated after an election petition
.
The group began to nominate its own candidates in by-elections between 1852 and 1857 and had some limited success, winning four seats.
The party was damaged by weak leaders and by the lack of support its received from the Roman Catholic Church
. Charles Gavan Duffy
left in despair and went to Australia. Frederick Lucas proved an ineffective leader, while his successor, George Henry Moore
, its new leader, having got elected in his Mayo constituency
through clerical help, was defeated by clerical opposition at the 1857 general election
. The party split over an internal row over its oath, and faded into oblivion. Members of the group participated in the meeting of MPs in 1859, which agreed to support the Second Palmerston Government and which is often regarded as the formal foundation of the Liberal Party
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
political party founded in July 1852 by 40 Liberal Irish MPs
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
who had been elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
. It is sometimes mentioned as the Irish Independent Opposition Party, and colloquially known as the Pope’s Brass Band because of their stance on the Ecclesiastical Titles Act. Its MPs were also called the "Irish Brigade".
It had two central aims:
- The repeal of the Ecclesistical Titles Act, which banned Roman Catholic Bishops from re-assuming pre-reformation ecclesiastical bishropic titles in the United Kingdom, as well as the prohibition of the wearing of clerical outfits.
- The adoption and enforcement of the Three FsThree FsThe Three Fs were a series of demands first issued by the Tenant Right League in their campaign for land reform in Ireland from the 1850s. They were,...
, namely- fair rent;
- fixity of tenure;
- free sale. (These would all have aided Irish tenant farms, all of whom lacked them.)
The Independent Irish Party initially achieved the balance of power in the House of Commons. It brought down Lord Derby's Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
ministry and enabled the leader of the Peelites Lord Aberdeen and Whigs
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
to form a coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
government. However two Irish MPs, John Sadleir
John Sadleir
John Sadleir was an Irish financier and politician.He entered the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1847 as a Member of Parliament for Carlow...
and William Keogh
William Keogh
William Keogh PC was an unpopular and controversial Irish politician and judge, whose name became a byword for betraying one's political principles.- Background :...
then broke ranks by joining this ministry, an act for which they were never forgiven in Ireland, where they were remembered with contempt a century later.
Some but not all Irish Liberal candidates in the 1852 election had pledged themselves to form an independent party in Parliament
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
. This was done in their election address or at two conferences in 1852, one held by the Tenants League and the other about Religious Equality. 48 Irish MPs were elected after making such a pledge. One was unseated after an election petition
Election petition
An election petition refers to the procedure for challenging the result of a Parliamentary election or local government election in the United Kingdom and in Hong Kong.- Outcomes :...
.
The group began to nominate its own candidates in by-elections between 1852 and 1857 and had some limited success, winning four seats.
The party was damaged by weak leaders and by the lack of support its received from the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Charles Gavan Duffy
Charles Gavan Duffy
Additional Reading*, Allen & Unwin, 1973.*John Mitchel, A Cause Too Many, Aidan Hegarty, Camlane Press.*Thomas Davis, The Thinker and Teacher, Arthur Griffith, M.H. Gill & Son 1922....
left in despair and went to Australia. Frederick Lucas proved an ineffective leader, while his successor, George Henry Moore
George Henry Moore
George Henry Moore was an Irish politician who served as Member of Parliament for Mayo in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. He was one of the founders of the Catholic Defence Association and a leader of the Independent Irish Party. He was also father of the writer George A. Moore and the...
, its new leader, having got elected in his Mayo constituency
Mayo (UK Parliament constituency)
Mayo was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885.-History :...
through clerical help, was defeated by clerical opposition at the 1857 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1857
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
. The party split over an internal row over its oath, and faded into oblivion. Members of the group participated in the meeting of MPs in 1859, which agreed to support the Second Palmerston Government and which is often regarded as the formal foundation of the Liberal Party
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...
.