1-150-984 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'The Old Umbrella!!!', 1886. This cartoon shows the former Prime Minister, William Gladstone. The Liberal Party had recently lost the General Election to the Conservatives, and their leader, Lord Salisbury had been invited by Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, to form a government. The Liberals had experienced much dissent within their party, with the Radicals distancing themselves from Gladstone's Irish Home Rule Bill. However, should the Liberals reunite under the 'Liberal Umbrella', then they would have a majority in the House. From Punch, or the London Charivari, July 24, 1886.