home rule in ireland exam focus: edexcel elizabeth francis philip allan publishers © 2016
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Philip Allan Publishers © 2016 From a speech by Joseph Chamberlain, a leading Liberal MP, on the second reading of the Home Rule Bill on 1 June Although a Liberal, Chamberlain was a leading opponent of the bill, keen to defend the supremacy of the imperial parliament at Westminster. ‘“We have said that the effect of the bill was that it not only created parliament in Dublin, but would also destroy the imperial parliament in Westminster. We have said and maintain that the retention of the imperial parliament in its present form and authority is necessary for the unity of the empire, and that without the representation of Ireland you cannot have a parliament at Westminster which will exercise anything like an effective or authoritative supremacy. We are anxious for this supremacy of the imperial parliament. I put this to hon. gentlemen…let them bear in mind that this is the issue raised by this bill. If they do not want the imperial parliament to be supreme they are right in voting for it. If they do want it to be supreme they will fail in their purpose…” ‘This is an extract from a speech of my right hon. friend [Prime Minister Gladstone] delivered at Dalkeith in December The right hon. gentleman says, “One limit, and one limit only, I know to the extension of local government. It is this. Nothing can be done, in my opinion, by any wise statesman or right-minded Briton to weaken or compromise the authority of the imperial parliament, because the imperial parliament must be supreme within these three kingdoms, and nothing that creates a doubt upon that supremacy can be tolerated by any intelligent and patriotic man.” That Gladstone and Ireland exactly expresses the opinion which I hold and which I want to impress on the House. But is there any man here who can maintain that this bill does not weaken the supremacy of the imperial parliament — that does not throw doubt upon it?’ Home Rule in IrelandTRANSCRIPT
Home Rule in Ireland
Exam focus: Edexcel
Elizabeth Francis
Philip Allan Publishers © 2016
Home Rule in Ireland
Philip Allan Publishers © 2016
Assess the value of the source for revealing the motivations of the opponents to Gladstone’s Home Rule Bill.
Explain your answer, using the source, the information given about its origin and your own knowledge about the historical context.
(20 marks)
Philip Allan Publishers © 2016
From a speech by Joseph Chamberlain, a leading Liberal MP, on the second reading of the Home Rule Bill on 1 June 1886. Although a Liberal, Chamberlain was a leading opponent of the bill, keen to defend the supremacy of the imperial parliament at Westminster.‘“We have said that the effect of the bill was that it not only created parliament in Dublin, but would also destroy the imperial parliament in Westminster. We have said and maintain that the retention of theimperial parliament in its present form and authority is necessary for the unity of the empire, and that without the representation of Ireland you cannot have a parliament at Westminster which will exercise anything like an effective or authoritative supremacy. We are anxious for this supremacy of the imperial parliament. I put this to hon. gentlemen…let them bear in mind that this is the issue raised by this bill. If they do not want the imperial parliament to be supreme they are right in voting for it. If they do want it to be supreme they will fail in their purpose…”‘This is an extract from a speech of my right hon. friend [Prime Minister Gladstone] delivered at Dalkeith in December 1879. The right hon. gentleman says, “One limit, and one limit only, I know to the extension of local government. It is this. Nothing can be done, in my opinion, by any wise statesman or right-minded Briton to weaken or compromise the authority of the imperial parliament, because the imperial parliament must be supreme within these three kingdoms, and nothing that creates a doubt upon that supremacy can be tolerated by any intelligent and patriotic man.” That Gladstone and Ireland exactly expresses the opinion which I hold and which I want to impress on the House. But is there any man here who can maintain that this bill does not weaken the supremacy of the imperial parliament — that does not throw doubt upon it?’
Home Rule in Ireland