... seem rushed and unplanned. Yet even Blake admits that Disraeli's actions seemed somewhat intentional; "Certainly Disraeli had been through gyrations so extraordinary that a sinister explanation might well seem called for." The reform bill was not even due to be passed until 1868, and the proposition had been pieced together only days before, but Disraeli pledged to the government to have the bill passed immediately, without authority from the cabinet. This could just have been a blunder, as Blake suggests; ill-thought through, and muddled. However this seems extremely unlikely, given Disraeli's objectives. Disraeli's ultimate objective was to pass the reform bill to gain popular support in parliament, and gain power through the votes of those newly enfranchised by the reform bill. The reason he had it passed immediately it seems, is that he wanted to beat the Liberals to it; by putting forward the proposition for the reform act, it ...

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