... most significant issues dealt with in this election was tariff reform. Many believe that this was in fact the deciding factor in the election, such as this journalist writing for the Manchester Guardian on 15th January 1906: 1"A candidate had only to be a Free Trader to get in, whether he was known or unknown, semi-unionist or thorough Home Ruler, Protestant or Roman Catholic, entertaining or dull. He had only to be a Protectionist to lose all chance of getting in though he spoke with the tongues of men and angels, though he was a good employer to many electors, or had led the House of Commons or fought in the Crimea." Statistics focussing on the different issues covered in the 1906 election show that the maintenance of free trade was mentioned in 98% of Liberal Election addresses, supporting the opinion that this was the major issue in 1906.2 ...

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