The British aristocracy had been divided historically…
1888 CE to 1899 CE
However, when Gladstone commits to home rule for Ireland, Britain's upper classes largely abandon the Liberal party, giving the Conservatives a large permanent majority in the House of Lords.
High Society in London, following the Queen, largely ostracizes home rulers, and Liberal clubs are badly split.
Joseph Chamberlain takes a major element of upper-class supporters out of the Party and into a third party, the Liberal Unionists, which collaborates with and eventually merges into the Conservative party.
The Gladstonian liberals in 1891 adopt The Newcastle Programme that include home rule for Ireland, disestablishment of the Church of England in Wales and Scotland, tighter controls on the sale of liquor, major extension of factory regulation, and various democratic political reforms.
The Programme has a strong appeal to the Nonconformist middle-class Liberal element, which feels liberated by the departure of the aristocracy.
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