The first possible reason for Balfour’s resignation (i.e. that Balfourwas tired) we must first discuss the reasons for the unpopularity of the Unionist government. The government was unpopular because of the use of Chinese slave labour by Milner after the Anglo-Boer war as they thought it was harsh on the Chinese labourers. The 1904 Licensing Act had also caused resentment particularly from liberal supporters who felt that it was just a concession to the liquor trade, which was a prime supplier of income for the Unionists. The 1902 Education act was also unpopular as it created local schools out of the rates from church schools, which angered Anglicans.
The 1901 Taff Vale judgement worried Labour supporters as it meant that strikes would become useless as a tool to campaign for better pay, and the single biggest issue was Tariff Reform, as regular people believed that it would increase the price of food and drink. There was also the fact that there had been no general election, bar the Khaki election of 1900, for 10 years.
Another cause of unpopularity was the rising level of unemployment since 1904 and the increasing anger of the general dismissal of the Irish Home Rule problem. One of the key features of the Unionist party was that it was its nature averse to change and that was exactly what the people wanted (particularly the ideas associated with the welfare state), and Balfour was unable to provide it. In essence this reason for Balfour’s resignation is summed up by the following quotation from Grey’s thoughts “…it was more than 2 years since the Free Trade members of the government had resigned; the shock of that had not broken up the government then and could not be the reason for its resignation now.
When Campbell Bannerman gave his famous speech at Stirling on November 25th 1905, where he said that Irish home rule supporters should wait, as it would be completed one step at a time, he never anticipated that it would form the basis for one of the most risky tactical moves in politics. Balfour resigned when Lord Rosebury who, upon hearing the speech, resigned from the liberal party. Balfour saw that Campbell Bannerman and his chief whip, Atland Hood, did not complement each other like they should have done.
Balfour thought that if Bannerman was forced to take office then he would be unable to form an effective government and that the liberals would be forced to form an unpopular and weak government.
Asquith says that he had seen this written elsewhere and believed it to be true “Mr. Balfour was reputed at that time to be a past-master of political tactics.” If a liberal believed that Balfour was a tactical genius then it is most likely that the resignation was a tactical move.
In conclusion, I believe that Balfour’s resignation in 1905 was a tactical move, as he had no strong reason to resign due to his majority in the House of Commons. He gambled on the supposed weaknesses of the Liberal party. That move failed, as the liberals were able to create a strong and able government. Balfour lost the general election and his seat at Manchester.
Paul Wimpenny 12KJP
