'Before The Trial', 1867. This cartoon depicts Gladstone (left) and Disraeli (right) admitting that the whole matter of reform could be settled immediately if it were not for the in-fighting of the parties, and the need to present an opposition on the part of the Liberals. However in reality, at the end of February 1867, Disraeli, the Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer, had introduced the details of the present plans for parliamentary reform to the House. For the Liberals, Gladstone had said that he had no plans to object to the proposals except that the resolution must embody the present Conservative administration's plans, rather than the previous Liberal administration's plans. This was an attempt by Gladstone to exploit the disunity of the present administration as a number of right-wing ministers remained hostile to any attempt to introduce extensive reform. From Punch, or the London Charivari, March 9, 1867.
