How did the 1784 election consolidate Pitt's Power?
How did the 1784 Election Consolidate Pitt’s Power?
In March 1784 the British General Election consolidated William Pitt’s power in many different ways.
Before the election Pitt did not have the majority in the House of Commons. Pitt could only rely on about 150 votes whereas Fox and North had around 230. Even with the votes from independent MPs Pitt was still approximately 60 votes short. Also his position in the commons appeared weaker due to the fact that he was the only one in his cabinet to sit in the lower house. Pitt’s opposition were convinced they could easily defeat him and that his government was to be very short-lived and was famously expressed by Frances Anne Crewe (The wife of John Crewe –a leading Rockingham Whig), who described it as the ‘Mince Pie administration’ to be devoured by the opposition and be gone by Christmas. The fact that Fox had failed to devour Pitt can be explained by two factors: Pitt’s own political skill and the powers still available to the crown. These were demonstrated on the lead up the election in March 1784 when a tactical manoeuvre was to consolidate Pitt’s power.
Pitt gained support in and outside the commons separately. Pitt’s idea was to delay an immediate election in order for him to tackle his opposition head on. He though that this demonstrate his ability to independent MPs who would then support him in the long-term. ‘Pitt was determined to face his critics in the Commons, and events showed that his judgement was sound. It needed considerable nerve and courage to defy the coalitionists in the Commons. Pitt calculated that if he could impress the House he would set in train a shift of opinion away from the opposition and towards himself. This meant that when the Election took place the morale of the opposition would already be low. He knew that many of North’s followers had been reconciled to the coalition with Fox only because it held out the prospect of a stable ministry. Now that this expectation had been
In March 1784 the British General Election consolidated William Pitt’s power in many different ways.
Before the election Pitt did not have the majority in the House of Commons. Pitt could only rely on about 150 votes whereas Fox and North had around 230. Even with the votes from independent MPs Pitt was still approximately 60 votes short. Also his position in the commons appeared weaker due to the fact that he was the only one in his cabinet to sit in the lower house. Pitt’s opposition were convinced they could easily defeat him and that his government was to be very short-lived and was famously expressed by Frances Anne Crewe (The wife of John Crewe –a leading Rockingham Whig), who described it as the ‘Mince Pie administration’ to be devoured by the opposition and be gone by Christmas. The fact that Fox had failed to devour Pitt can be explained by two factors: Pitt’s own political skill and the powers still available to the crown. These were demonstrated on the lead up the election in March 1784 when a tactical manoeuvre was to consolidate Pitt’s power.
Pitt gained support in and outside the commons separately. Pitt’s idea was to delay an immediate election in order for him to tackle his opposition head on. He though that this demonstrate his ability to independent MPs who would then support him in the long-term. ‘Pitt was determined to face his critics in the Commons, and events showed that his judgement was sound. It needed considerable nerve and courage to defy the coalitionists in the Commons. Pitt calculated that if he could impress the House he would set in train a shift of opinion away from the opposition and towards himself. This meant that when the Election took place the morale of the opposition would already be low. He knew that many of North’s followers had been reconciled to the coalition with Fox only because it held out the prospect of a stable ministry. Now that this expectation had been