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 Excheque ...

in 1834 in Tamworth, which is widely credited by historians as having laid down the principles upon which the modern British Conservative Party is based. In November 1834, King William IV 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 prem ...

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 o ...

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

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External links

* The Tamworth Manifesto 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

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Further reading

External links