The political climate in Europe changed dramatically since the American War for Independence. The French had revolted and overthrown their monarchy. They proceed to invade neighboring countries and were beaten back. Then Napoleon managed to gain control of France and went on a crusade to rule the rest of Europe. He was ultimately defeated. However, he changed European politics forever. The conservative elements were in retreat and the liberals started revolutions to topple the monarchies that still existed. In England, this revolution was neither violent nor sudden, rather the Prime Ministers gradually took control of the government and slowly but surely the monarch was pushed to the side.
Under the leadership of Ben Disraeli and William Gladstone, the prime minister started to become the real leader of England. These two prime ministers ruled from 1868-1885 between them. They were political enemies, however their dislike for each other rose not from “political differences…[but] their utter dissimilarity in character and temperament.”1 Gladstone was a Liberal who was willing to sacrifice his party for his conscience and Disraeli was a Conservative with a reformist streak running through his veins.
Gladstone came to power in 1868. He demanded “that conscience and the moral law must govern political decisions.”2 Between 1868 and 1874, Gladstone “put into effect a long-delayed avalanche of reforms.”3 He “disestablished the Protestant Church of Ireland. This was followed [the] next year [1870] by a Land Act which attempted to protect tenants from unfair eviction.”4 He also got the electorate educated, eliminated patronage from the Civil Service, allowed all to enter the universities, simplified the judicial system, and reformed the Army. In 1875, Disraeli came to power. He reformed England almost as much as Gladstone did. He passed bills helping out unions, passed public health and safety laws, and expanded the British Empire.
The British government has evolved into what is basically a unicameral government. The House of Commons dominates politics. The House of Lords is basically symbolic and appears to be on the edge of being dismantled. The monarch has no real power. They are nothing but a symbol of the nations unity. The Prime Minister; who is also the head of the majority party in the House of Commons; is the real leader of Great Britain. If the House of Commons passes a law, the House of Lords may only postpone its enactment for a year. After that point it becomes law. The monarch may refuse a law, but to do so would be to sink to the level of politics, and the monarch must be above politics.
Elections are held every five years, although a Prime Minister may call them whenever they so desire; a tactic which is often used when the majority party is very popular which ensures their continued dominance. The minority parties have little power. They speak against bills, but have no power to amend them or to stop their passage. Party discipline is paramount in Parliament and so every party member will vote the way they are told to; most of the time. Should a bill ever fail, the minority party will call for a vote of no confidence. If this vote passes, the government must disband and new elections are held. Then it starts all over again.
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1 Sir Winston
Churchill, History of the English Speaking Peoples: Vol. IV- The Great
Democracies, new ed., (New York, Barnes and Noble Press) 1993, p. 283.
2 Ibid., p. 284.