On This Day

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.