08 September 1893

Gladstone’s second attempt to pass Irish Home Rule is crushed in the House of Lords

Gladstone’s second and final attempt to pass Home Rule for Ireland fails after defeat in the House of Lords. Unlike the 1886 Home Rule Bill, the 1893 measure was successful in the House of Commons, receiving a slim majority of thirty-three votes, but was crushed by the Tory-dominated upper chamber by 419-41. Eighty-three year old Gladstone was criticised for his increasing lack of engagement with the issue, and for failing to involve key allies like Chancellor William Harcourt. Though bids to provide devolution to Ireland were politically disastrous for the Liberals, the legislative failure is also considered today as being the key wasted opportunity on the part of the British Government to avoid civil war in Ireland, which later followed from 1916.