Repeal of the Corn Laws (1846)

The repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 resulted from parliamentary pressure and the Great Famine. Prime Minister Robert Peel, initially opposed, shifted stance due to famine conditions, splitting his party. Lord John Russell and the Anti-Corn Law League advocated for repeal. The Importation Act 1846 passed the Commons in May and received royal assent in June, marking a significant shift in British trade policy.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The Corn Laws were tariffs on imported food enforced between 1815 and 1846. The Great Famine in Ireland (1845–1852) created an urgent need for new food supplies, forcing a resolution. The Liberal Whig MP Charles Pelham Villiers proposed motions for repeal in the House of Commons every year from 1837 to 1845, and the parliamentary majority against repeal narrowed from 303 in 1842 to 132 by 1845.

Political Context. Prime Minister Robert Peel, a Conservative, initially voted against repeal but changed his stance in 1846 due to the famine. Lord John Russell, Whig Leader of the Opposition, publicly supported immediate repeal in November 1845. Peel's decision to repeal split his party, requiring Whig support to pass the measure, leading to his eventual resignation.

Legislative Process. The government recalled Parliament in January 1846 to address the crisis. The repeal measure passed the House of Commons on 15 May 1846. The Duke of Wellington persuaded the House of Lords to pass the bill on 25 June, and it became the Importation Act 1846 (9 & 10 Vict. c. 22), formally repealing the Corn Laws.

People involved

Sources

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