Matthew Carman History Mr Clarke
To what extent were the divisions between the parties 1846-1865 about ideology?
After the repeal of the Corn Laws and the subsequent split of the Conservative Party, a very interesting passage in British politics ensued in which differences and division were paramount. Indeed this is exemplified by the fact that there were eight ministries in this relatively brief period.
There are two suggestions for this. Firstly it is argued that the fundamental ideological differences namely over the question of free trade manifested themselves in huge divisions between the Conservatives and the broad Liberal coalition throughout this period. It is thus argued that despite internal division within the coalition, politics during this period was essentially the Conservatives fighting against the Whig-Liberal coalition. This argument thus suggests that there were two clearly separate ideologies doing battle.