Back in Parliament

Central Office, which, as we have seen in the previous chapter, had been successful under Gorst in preparing for the general election, now faced changes after the Conservative victory. To begin with, Keith-Falconer, an important member of the party’s machine, left Central Office in the early part of 1874 to become a commissioner of the Inland Revenue. Gorst wrote a letter of appreciation about his work to Disraeli. In it he said that ‘Keith-Falconer shares equally with Mr Noel and myself any credit due for the organisation in the constituencies … of which you have so kindly spoken in terms of commendation.’ ¹ He went on to say that he and Keith-Falconer had worked for four years ‘without an unpleasant word between us. I shall grievously lament the loss of a colleague who has proved himself of the highest value in our work and to whom I am most sincerely attached’.