How valid is the contention that during his second ministry of 1841 46 Sir Robert Peel
How valid is the contention that during his second ministry of 1841-46, Sir Robert Peel was primarily concerned with the development of British industry rather than with humanitarian or Irish issues? This argument, although valid is too general an outlook over Peel’s policies. It is correct to say that one of Peel’s main concerns were those of an economic nature. ... Several of Peel’s policies taken to improve the economy often purposely improved humanitarian issues or Irish difficulties as well. It is valid to argue that one of Peel’s primary concerns was the development of British industry, as Gash and Evans both observe; his first and more pressing problem was finance. For Peel, like Pitt, had come to power during an economic crisis. ... Peel hoped this would not only absorb the Whig deficit (a sum of more than £2 500 000) but also yield a handsome disposable surplus. This return would enable the reduction of tariffs something, which Peel, viewed as stifling British Industry. Peel argued that import duties made raw materials such as cotton, wool and iron ore more expensive, thereby keeping production costs too high. ... This measure indicates that the argument that Peel’s primary concern was the development of British industry is correct; here Peel is trying to stimulate the economy rather than help with more charitable issues, such as poor relief. However Peel’s economic reforms cannot be looked at so submissively. As Evans highlights, “Peel had been a leading liberal Tory and he aimed to revive British prosperity with measures to those which had bought success in the 1820s. ... It was Peel’s viewpoint that the only way social issues could be alleviated was to make the country “cheap for living.” This could only be achieved by Peel tackling economic issues that would then have a knock on effect on social issues by diminishing unemployment and encouraging prosperity in the growing, but still relatively unstable British Industry.