How Liberal were the Tories between 1821 and 1827?

        The first substantial modification Liverpool made was the reorganization of the cabinet.  His changes suggested to many a change of direction.  Robert Peel replaced Lord Sidmouth as Home Secretary in 1822.  In 1823, Robinson replaced Vansittart as the Chancellor of the Exchequer.  Robinson was replaced by Huskisson in 1823, as President of the board of trade, and Canning took over from Lord Castlereagh as Foreign Secretary in 1822.  The ‘replacements’ were seen as having a more middle-class outlook.  The key to the success of the new cabinet was their improvement of economic conditions, as this was what the people were most unhappy with.  In 1823, Britain’s trading position with the rest of the world improved, when Robinson introduced the Reciprocity of Duties Act.  This was an attempt to change the navigation laws, which had been introduced in the 1600s.  They were designed to protect British ships from competition from the Dutch. The act overcame obstacles by allowing free entry of foreign ships into Britain, and it was seen as a gesture of goodwill abroad.  

Many other changes also took place at this time, such as freedom of religion and free expression.  A new attitude on the government’s part changed a great deal, and created more freedom in general.  

However, many historians such as J. E. Cookson, have criticised the ‘new’ government for a number of reasons.  He said that modern historians had invented the term ‘enlightened Tory’, and that the new men in Liverpool’s cabinet were obviously not in fact new.  He also said that the period up to 1821 had not been repressive – it was exaggerated, and the enlightened Tory legislation was not even particularly liberal.

In conclusion, the Tories changed Britain and did become ‘enlightened’ or liberal to a certain extent and this worked for the good of the country.  However, this did not necessarily mean that they were totally liberal – they were just doing what they thought best to gain support and generally improve the welfare of the country.