1 magg 1846 anni - Repeal of the Corn Laws

Descrizione:

Passed by the House of Commons. Peel was accused of giving in to the pressure of the League. Duke of Wellington believed it was because of the Irish Famine. Peel had discreetly arranged for supplies of Indian corn to be imported from the USA (poor quality). The famine raised the issue of the Corn Law duty. Peel argued that "the removal of impediments to imports is the only remedy". Peel had the reluctant support of Wellington and some of his cabinet.

Why Peel repealed the Corn Laws:
- as former chief of secretary for Ireland, Peel was concerned that law and order might break down in Ireland unless action was taken
- Peel admitted that Cobden' argument had influenced him
- from November 1845, the Whigs came out clearly in support of repeal (if the League supported the Whigs in a popular cause, the Conservatives would be left defending an unpopular policy, as with the reform issue)
- Peel had been a supporter of free trade and it was illogical for him to go on maintaining restrictions on the corn trade
- Peel had the support of most of his cabinet
- believed he should act on what he considered right as prime minister, regardless of previous assurances and the views of his MPs
- the support of Wellington and the Whig peers meant he could count on the measure being passed in the Lords

Arguments against repeal:
- Corn Laws of 1815 had been amended in 1828 and 1841 - weren't considered untouchable by governments
- basic premise was flawed as huge amounts of foreign corn were not being accumulated and so couldn't be imported from Europe in bad years as similar weather conditions affected most European yields
- corn from further afield was very expensive to import (after repeal, availability of additional supplies hardly affected the domestic price)
- fear that lower bread prices would be used by employers to cut wages
- many of the reforms passed after 1832 had not been in the interests of the landowners

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