ABSTRACT
The extension of the franchise in 1867 greatly increased the political strength of the Nonconformists, and during the campaign preceding the first general election to be held on the new roll (1868) many Liberal candidates pledged themselves to work for ‘equality in religion’ and the provision of a national system of elementary education free from ‘sectarianism’. The Liberals came to power with a majority of more than 100 seats, and Gladstone became Prime Minister. Though a number of leading Radicals were elected, only one, John Bright, was included in the cabinet, and his activity was negligible because of illness; but another, W. E. Forster, who had earlier been associated with Cobden and Bright in the work of the National Public School Association, became vice-president of the Committee of Council on Education.
