The Tamworth Manifesto was a political manifesto issued by Sir

Robert Peel Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, (5 February 1788 – 2 July 1850) was a British Conservative statesman who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834–1835 and 1841–1846) simultaneously serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer ...

in 1834 in Tamworth, which is widely credited by historians as having laid down the principles upon which the modern British

Conservative Party The Conservative Party is a name used by many political parties around the world. These political parties are generally right-wing though their exact ideologies can range from center-right to far-right. Political parties called The Conservative P ...

is based. In November 1834,

King William IV William IV (William Henry; 21 August 1765 – 20 June 1837) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III, William succeeded hi ...

removed the Whig Prime Minister

Lord Melbourne William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, (15 March 177924 November 1848), in some sources called Henry William Lamb, was a British Whig politician who served as Home Secretary (1830–1834) and Prime Minister (1834 and 1835–1841). His first pre ...

and asked the

Duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, (1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and Tory statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures of 19th-century Britain, serving twice as prime minister of ...

to form a ministry. Wellington was reluctant and recommended that the King choose Peel. Perhaps owing to Wellington's endorsement, Peel intended from the start, as the historian S. J. Lee tells, "to fully convince the country and electorate that there was a substantial difference between his brand of conservatism and that of his predecessor and 'old tory' Wellington." With that in mind, on 18 December the Tamworth Manifesto was published by the press and read around the country. Like many other manifestos in nineteenth-century British politics it was formally an address to the electors of the leader's own constituency, but reproduced widely. In the event Tamworth saw no contest in January 1835: Peel and his brother

William William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

were the only candidates – they were elected, i.e. "returned", unopposed.

Peel's aims dictated in the Tamworth Manifesto

The main aim of the manifesto was to appeal to the electorate in the new Parliament. * Peel accepted that the

Reform Act 1832 The Representation of the People Act 1832 (also known as the 1832 Reform Act, Great Reform Act or First Reform Act) was an Act of Parliament, Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom (indexed as 2 & 3 Will. IV c. 45) that introduced major chan ...

was "a final and irrevocable settlement of a great constitutional question". * He promised that the

Conservatives Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

would undertake a "careful review of institutions, civil and ecclesiastical". * Where there was a case for change, he promised "the correction of proved abuses and the redress of real grievances". * Peel offered to look at the question of church reform in order to preserve the "true interests of the Established religion". * Peel's basic message, therefore, was that the Conservatives "would reform to survive".Norman Gash. ''Sir Robert Peel: The Life of Sir Robert Peel after 1830'' * However, he opposed what he saw as unnecessary change, fearing "a perpetual vortex of agitation".

Notes

{{Reflist, 30em

External links

The Tamworth Manifesto ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

at Wikisource. History of the Conservative Party (UK) Political manifestos Political history of the United Kingdom 1834 in politics 1834 in the United Kingdom Party platforms Robert Peel December 1834 events 1834 documents Tamworth, Staffordshire Documents of the United Kingdom

Peel's aims dictated in the Tamworth Manifesto

See also

Notes

Further reading

External links