Episode 1 of 4
Midlothian Speaking Campaign
- When
- 1879–1880
- Where
- Britain
Gladstone conducted a massive speaking campaign in 1879–1880, denouncing Disraeli's foreign policies and earning popularity among the working class.
Gladstone accepted the Liberal nomination for Midlothian in January 1879. He spoke across Britain, attacking Disraeli to huge crowds. This campaign is considered the first modern political campaign in Britain. His popularity earned him the sobriquet "The People's William," which became widely associated with him during the 1880 election.
Sources
- William Ewart Gladstone Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-27
- Benjamin Disraeli Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-22
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.