Change or Continuity? Tory Governments 1822-30

• Lord Liverpool remained PM from 1815 til 1827.
• After 1822 new members of the cabinet were younger than they had been before and the majority came from middle class backgrounds.
• Cabinet included a number of capable administrators.
• Most of new cabinet had previously held minor positions in the government so not completely new.
• New cabinet strengthened the government;s position and standing in the House of Commons.

1828- sliding scale of duties on imported wheat to allow foreign wheat to enter Britain without any duty once the price for British wheat reached 73s a quarter.

This alienated many land-owning Tories- It was one of the endless disputes in Wellington's Cabinet.

Tory- Still Protectionism

Liberal- Trying to introduce freer trade

• Reduction of duties act- lower tariffs on imported good (like rum, silk and paper) Means loer price for consumers but still high profits for manufacturers,
• 1823 Reprocity of duties act- reduced tariffs with countries likes Russia, Sweden and South Africa.
• Navigation act- Non British ships could import goods into Britain, charge at port reduced.

Trade restrictions were relaxed to encourage trade within the empire.

1826 Bank Act-To decrease numbers of notes issued, increase size of banks to create greater stability and more confidence. Led to more investment.

Repeal of combination laws- Took away ban on trade unions completely. However this led to strikes so the act was amended.

• Reform of penal code- Death penalty abolished for over 180 crimes (only remained for murder and treason) Jury system reorganised, no more government spies. Still public hangings and transportation.
• Gaols Act- 1823- Removed some of worse abuse in justice system, made imprisonment a major part of the punishment system. jailers paid, prisons inspected, gender seperated, prisoners educated, health visits.
• Metropolitan police force- Set up in 1829 in London, 1000 paid constables in non military uniform armed only with truncheons. Seen as a threat to civil liberties.

Passed in 1829 by Wellington.

Because....

• Threat of violence and even civil war if O'Connell and other Ctholics were debarred from parliament.
• Repeal of Test and Corporations Act was ony partial and still forbade Catholics from holding important positions in state.
• Emancipation necessary to deter uproar. 

Led to a divided parliament- Tory split-

• Canningites and Whigs.
• Ultra Tories
• Peel and Wellington's supporters (many blamed those two)