17 December 1852

William Gladstone savages Disraeli’s budget

Gladstone spoke for two hours against the budget, introduced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Benjamin Disraeli, resulting in its rejection by a Whig/Radical/Liberal/Peelite combination. He had been attacked by Disraeli, who said of his opponents, ‘I face a Coalition … This, too, I know, that England does not love coalitions.’ The Government was defeated by 19 votes and the Prime Minister, the Earl of Derby resigned 4 days later.