24 July 1886
General election

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The Liberals are in disarray after the defeat of Gladstone's Home Rule Bill. The Conservatives win the election, with the Marquess of Salisbury as prime minister. They govern in alliance with the breakaway Liberal Unionists, headed by Joseph Chamberlain.

Initially Salisbury also takes on the post of foreign secretary, as he hopes personally to improve Britain's relations with the other European powers, but soon passes the job to Lord Rosebery. Lord Randolph Churchill, once Salisbury's supporter but now his rival for party leadership, is chancellor of the Exchequer. However, in December, he resigns when he is prevented from cutting the military budget, and Salisbury offers the post to Liberal Unionist George Goschen.

Chamberlain does not have a Cabinet post but, thanks to his influence, the administration passes reforms in local government, education, allotments and smallholdings, and Irish land law.

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