On July the 11th 1902, Lord Salisbury announced his retirement as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, after 13 years and 252 days in the position. Initially, most people anticipated Arthur Balfour, who would almost certainly succeed Salisbury as leader of the Conservatives, to also succeed Salisbury as Prime Minister. After all, Balfour was already First Lord of the Treasury, meaning he resided at Number Ten Downing Street, so he seemed a natural choice.
However, amongst Conservative and Liberal Unionist backbenches, there were murmurs of Joseph Chamberlain, leader of the Liberal Unionists, taking up the position instead. When Chamberlain himself heard these rumours, he was more than willing to transform them into reality. So, when Conservative and Liberal Unionist Members of Parliament met at the Carlton Club on the day of Salisbury’s resignation, contemplating who would receive what job in a Balfour Cabinet, Chamberlain rose to give a speech.
Above: Joseph Chamberlain
The speech shocked many of the assembled MPs – Chamberlain announced that he would not serve under Balfour, and instead advised that Salisbury should recommend to King Edward VII that he should form the next Government, rather than Balfour. Balfour, who was amongst those present, was horrified by this. If Balfour rejected Chamberlain’s demand and became Prime Minister, the Liberal Unionists would most likely withdraw from the Unionist Government and, although the Conservatives held a Parliamentary majority without them, it would make life rather difficult for Balfour.
Eventually, Balfour, after consulting his allies, conceded defeat. Salisbury, who was preparing for his audience with the King, was surprised when he was informed that Balfour could not form a Government, and instead he should advise Edward VII to call for Chamberlain. Although Salisbury wished to help his nephew, he recognised, like Balfour, that it would create no end of difficulties if the Liberal Unionists withdrew from the Cabinet. So, when Salisbury arrived at Buckingham Palace and tendered his resignation, he recommended to the King that Chamberlain should be called to form a Government.
So, Edward VII sent for Chamberlain, who duly kissed hands and accepted the King’s invitation to form a Government. In order to maintain unity within the Unionist Government, Prime Minister Chamberlain ensured that the Conservatives, who were still the largest party in the government by far, had multiple senior positions in the Cabinet, while Balfour, who had indeed succeeded Salisbury as leader of the Conservatives, retained his position as First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons.
Here is a list of Chamberlain’s Cabinet:
· Joseph Chamberlain – Prime Minister
· Arthur Balfour – First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons
· Charles Thomson Ritchie – Chancellor of the Exchequer
· Lord Lansdowne – Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
· Aretas Akers-Douglas – Secretary of State for the Home Department
· Lord Onslow – Secretary of State for the Colonies
· Lord Halsbury – Lord Chancellor
· The Duke of Devonshire – Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lords
· St John Brodrick – Secretary of State for War
· Lord George Hamilton – Secretary of State for India
· Lord Selborne – First Lord of the Admiralty
· Andrew Bonar Law – President of the Board of Trade
· Lord Balfour of Burleigh – Secretary for Scotland
· George Wyndham – Chief Secretary for Ireland
· Walter Hume Long – President of the Local Government Board
· Robert William Hanbury – President of the Board of Agriculture
· Lord Londonderry – President of the Board of Education
· Lord Ashbourne – Lord Chancellor of Ireland
· Lord Windsor – First Commissioner of Public Works
· Austen Chamberlain – Postmaster-General