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Spring, 1874: With a 14 point lead in the polls over the Liberals Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli went to Buckingham Palace and asked Queen Victoria to call a General election for the Spring of 1875. The Queen was more than happy to accomodate disraeli, with whome she had become quite close friends with.
After the Writ was dropped, the Chinese continued their shelling of British colonies unabated and Chinese pirates destroyed some British fishing boats in the Gulf of China. All of a sudden what looked like an easy cakewalk to a second Tory Government looked a lot closer than planned.
Colonial Secretary Richard Temple-Grenville was getting his way in Canada and Australia, building harbors and granaries and starting major projects like Customs Houses. It was only in South Africa and India where he was doing battle with Defense Minister John Spencer-Churchill over whose projects would win the day.
Summer, 1874: Foreign Secretary Edward Stanley continues to make Britain into a "Nation of Shopkeepers" - in a good way. Stanley continues to conclude many a foreign trade deal keeping the Treasury happy. The only place where Stanley is stymied is with the French - the PM won't allow him to do a deal with the French as Disraeli continues to regard the French as Britain's most natural rival.
Fall, 1874: The Royal Navy fights its first battle against the Chinese ironclads haunting Hong Kong and Macao. British Ships of the Line, severely outmatched by the ironclads, nonetheless hold their own and Secretary of State for Defense John Spencer-Churchill was quoted as saying "Now, today, we begin the first chapter in bringing down oriental barbarism and their unprovoked attacks against the empire."
Winter, 1875: Chancellor of the Exchequer George Hunt continues his free spending on a defense buildup, spending to complete a Redcoat and Ship of the Line early. With the General Election just around the corner most polls show the Tories with a 10 point lead and headed for a second majority government.
Spring, 1875: No surprises here as expected the Conservative (Tory) Party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, won reelection with an increased majority of 10 seats in the House of Commons.
General Election - Spring, 1875
Tories 51% - 281 seats
Liberals 44% - 220 seats
Labour 5% - 0 seats
The election results come as little surprise. The British public was generally pleased with the military campaigns the Disraeli Government had waged in South Africa and India and were seeing progress in the Chinese Troubles - mainly due to the aggressiveness of the Royal Navy under defense Minister John Spencer-Churchill.
Also of vital importance was that the economy was humming along despite Chancellor Hunt's increased defense spending - Foreign swecretary Edward Stanley can take much of the credit for that as he has become "Mr. Let's Make a Deal" exploiting much of the empire's natural resources for government profit. Stanley's willingness to make many a deal doesn't set well with some Tories, but his brand of free trade liberalism has done wonders in keeping the Tories in power.
There are however some cracks in the present Tory electoral hegemony. There's wanton pollution and sickness in many of the cities in the british isles - something a foundling Labour Party might be able to take advantage of if they can find a dynamic leader to unite their very disorganized candidates.
Meanwhile, as Prime Minister Disraeli ponders his second Cabinet, the Liberals will need to decide whether to keep former Prime Minister William Gladstone on as leader or turn to a new face. The Liberals sufferred only a 2% swing against despite British military victories in South Africa and India. Former Home Secretary Edward Seymour is likely the only Liberal with enough clout to give Gladstone a run at this point and he has made no sounds about challenging the venerable former Prime Minister. Many Liberals - quietly of course - speak glowingly of Tory Foreign Secretary Edward Stanley and believe he is the man to lead the Liberal Party back to the promised land of Number 10 Downing Street. But for now Stanley remains loyaly seated on the government front bench.
Benjamin Disraeli's Second Tory Cabinet
Prime Minister: Benjamin Disraeli
Chancellor of the Exchequer: John Spencer-Churchill
Foreign Secretary: Edward Stanley
Home secretary: Richard Temple-Grenville
Secretary of State for Defense: Gathorne Hardy
Secretary of State for the Colonies: R.A. Cross
In the second cabinet Defemse Minister Spencer-Churchill got the well deserved promotion to Chancellor of the Exchequer, perhaps indicating even more of an increase in defense spending. Stanley remained at the Foreign Office while Richard Temple-Grenville was promoted to Home Secretary - foreboding more potential clashes over what to build in the British Isles between him and Spencer-Churchill. Home Secretary Gathorne Hardy moved to Defense and backbencher R.A. Cross was promoted to the colonial portfolio. Chancellor George Hunt retired from politics after a successful stint at the Exchequer.
New Colonial Secretary, R.A. Cross.
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