Crisis Develops

Crisis develops 1912-14

• Election of 1910 Liberals become dependent of Irish Nationals to remain in power
• In return for curbing of Lords powers of veto and Home rule for Ireland
• Passing of Parliament act 1911 meant lords could only delay bills not reject

Third Home Rule Bill 1912

• Irish Parliament with elected house similar to House of Commons and a nominated upper house
• 42 Irish MPs would still attend Westminster
• Ulster was to be included in the Home Rule Parliament
• This proposal left much control still with Westminster
• John Redmond (Irish National Party leader) thought barely acceptable as starting point for future progress
• Unionists thought entirely unacceptable
• However, Irish Nationals did not force Liberals into Home rule
• Many Liberals actually wanted Home Rule before election of 1910
• Gladstone had been attempting for many years previous
• Irish Home rule had not been forgotten but Social reform shad been more important at the time of the Liberal Government coming to office with the landslide victory in 1906
• Also wary of Irish Home rule would provoke a constitutional crisis which may result in a loss of majority (which did happen)
• It was the curbing of the Lords power rather than the Irish Nationals which brought about the pushing of the bill to becoming priority
• Bill brought before Commons in April 1912
• Met opposition from Conservatives and Unionists
• Completed passage through commons in January 1913
• Rejected by Lords
• However, due to parliament act could only delay bill not fully reject, would be law in 1914
• Delay gave Ulster Unionists time to organise real resistance in Ireland while bill being passed