Arthur Balfour's Leadership 1902-1905

Arthur Balfour's Leadership 1902-1905

Tariff Reform

• Introduced by Chamberlain in 1903
• It was a tax on imports into Britain and the Empire
• A policy of imperial preference 
• Taxes raised would go towards social reforms e.g. Pensions. 

Outcomes

• The issue dividided the Conservatives into three groups: 
• FREE FOODERS- Anti-Protectionism, against tariff reform
• BALFOURITES- Named after the Conservative leader who sat on the fence and wanted to find middle ground led by Balfour showing his weakness as a leader.
• WHOLE HOGGERS- Pro-tarriff reform
• CT Richie, Chancellor of the Exechequer, threatened to resign 
• Winston Churchill left the Conservatives over the issue and joined the Liberal party. 
• The Liberal Party said it would lead retaliatory tariffs and rising food prices.
• 'The issue rocked the party to its foundations'-Derrick Murphy.

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