The Primrose League

Abstract

The foundation of the Primrose League can only be understood against the background of politics in the 1880s. The 1880 election defeat had severely demoralized the Conservatives and as a result they began to fight among themselves. As long as Disraeli remained as uncontested leader, the situation could be kept under control but in 1881 Disraeli died, leaving no obvious heir as party leader. The stopgap solution found was to make Sir Stafford Northcote leader in the House of Commons and Lord Salisbury in the House of Lords. Of course, this could only work as long as the Conservatives remained in opposition for once they returned to power only one of the two could be prime minister. The House of Commons was already the more powerful of the two houses, which should have given Northcote an advantage, but his personality worked against him. Northcote was one of the least aggressive Conservative Party leaders in history. To make matters worse, he had once been Gladstone’s secretary and retained a great deal of respect for and deference towards the Liberal leader. Many Conservatives quickly became disenchanted with Northcote’s performance in the House.