The Shadow of Great Britain

212: Chapter 143 Parliament Confrontation (7K4)_4 212: Chapter 143 Parliament Confrontation (7K4)_4 The Duke of Wellington addressed the Speaker, “Mr.

Speaker, I believe you must remind the Earl that it is now 1830, and if he wishes to discuss this, he could go back to the era of William the Conqueror.

Moreover, as I just mentioned, various forms of corruption still exist.”

“However, aside from the corrupt constituencies, we also have many exemplary ones.

The most typical are the constituencies of Cambridge University and Oxford University.

Any student attending Oxford or Cambridge automatically receives the right to vote in the university constituency.

Is there a more lenient parliamentary voting system anywhere in the world?”

Upon hearing the Duke of Wellington mention the two university constituencies, Earl Grey, as if he had grasped a winning strategy, immediately fired back, “Good!

Since the Prime Minister willingly mentions the university constituencies, I have two questions that need clarification from you.

It is true that Oxford and Cambridge are exemplary for the whole of Britain, but I wonder if the Prime Minister is aware of a situation.”

“That is, students from Oxford and Cambridge can vote not only in their universities but can also return home to vote.

This is likewise true elsewhere; as long as a person owns enough real estate in various places, he automatically gains the right to vote in multiple places.

This electoral system, which allocates votes not by headcount but solely based on property, do you, Prime Minister, recognize any flaws in it?”

The Duke of Wellington, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but sweat in his palms.

Although he knew Earl Grey was a formidable opponent, he had not expected him to be this challenging today.

He anxiously shuffled the documents in front of him, “I hope that the Earl would acquaint himself with Britain’s electoral complaint and accusation system before posing his questions.

Against these unfair practices, such as multiple voting, inaccurate vote counting, voter bribery, and violent intimidation, any unsuccessful candidate and their supporters can submit a whistleblower complaint to the Parliament any time, any place.”

“The House of Commons’ Election Committee will naturally impose sanctions on any MPs found engaging in fraudulent activities if the allegations are substantiated.

Cases of disqualification of MPs have happened repeatedly throughout history; these are well-documented.”

At this statement, Earl Grey could not help but show a slight smile, for he had prepared too long for this day to let the Duke of Wellington distract and dissipate the issue here.

He turned to the Speaker.

“Then, Mr.

Speaker, may I ask you to inquire of the Prime Minister?

What is the success rate of the Election Committee in handling these accusations?

If the Prime Minister is unaware, I can give the answer here.

According to records from the House of Commons, the success rate of these accusations is less than one percent.”

“But according to the electoral report of 1787, out of 513 investigated MPs, at least 370 were suspected of using improper methods.”

“And in 1827, John Croker, a political analyst from your party, investigated the social affiliations of all 658 members of the House of Commons and found that 270 MPs were suspected of being under the control of major landowners.”

“Of these, 203 were members of the Tory Party, and eight of Britain’s great nobles controlled 57 seats.

How do you, Prime Minister, plan to respond to this?”

The Duke of Wellington remained silent upon hearing these accusations, but Earl Grey did not intend to let him off the hook and pressed on.

“The Prime Minister just praised the Election Committee as the fairest and most powerful electoral oversight organization in Britain.

Could it be that he has forgotten the two serious electoral fraud cases that broke out just as he took office in 1827?”

“At that time, our party’s spokesman, Lord John Russell, demanded the permanent disqualification of the electoral rights of those two corrupt constituencies, while many from your party wanted those two seats transferred to regions controlled by the ruling party.

Mr.

Hesketh, who unfortunately passed away recently, argued that at least one of the seats should be transferred to the increasingly populous Birmingham.”

“Ultimately, your decision was to allot the two seats directly to the two parties without election.

But I, out of a sense of public duty, believe that such an arrangement without election contradicts Parliamentary tradition.

Therefore, I took this opportunity to bring up the ‘Parliamentary Reform Bill’ which had been considered decades ago.”

“And yet your response at that time was: as long as I hold office in the government, I will always oppose such bills.”

“So, today my question is, even after years have passed, even though the situation has changed, even though clerics, businessmen, workers, and farmers nationwide are calling for reform, is your attitude still so firmly opposed to parliamentary reform?”

“Prime Minister, please answer my question directly!

This is not Waterloo, and there is no need to use the deceptive tactics common on the battlefield against the entire public of Great Britain!”

As Earl Grey’s words fell, the noisy Parliament Hall suddenly fell into dead silence.

Whether they were from the Tory Party or the Whig Party, everyone held their breath, their gazes focused on Prime Minister Wellington.

Wellington, who had just been flipping through materials, suddenly stopped his movements.

His body trembled slightly, and the old duke’s sneer echoed in the silent hall.

With a slap, Wellington slammed his hand down on the table, startling everyone present.

Wellington turned his head toward Earl Grey and, without relaying his message through the Speaker, raised his right arm and pointed at Grey.

“I never engage in any schemes or tricks, I just defeat my enemies on the battlefield.”

“Grey, I’ve said it before, I’m a simple man.

I hate being Prime Minister because the job doesn’t suit me.

I’m just a straightforward man, and I don’t excel at, nor care to hide my intentions.”

Sir Peel, upon hearing this, quickly stood up to persuade, “Your Grace…”

But before he could speak, Wellington interrupted him, “Robert, mind your own business!

This doesn’t concern you or your party members; this is a private matter between Grey and me.”

Having said this, Wellington pointed at Grey’s nose and added, “You’re right, Grey, my stance has always been consistent: in the past, now, and in the future, I shall stand firmly against Parliamentary reform!

“British politics isn’t a trifling matter; if you want to let just anyone in, I respect your views, but don’t expect me to stand by your side!

“Did you hear me clearly?

As long as Arthur Wellesley is alive, as long as my legs can move, as long as I can stand in Westminster Palace’s Parliament Hall, you can forget about passing the ‘Parliamentary Reform Bill’!”

Upon hearing this, Earl Grey quivered with rage.

Behind him, the faces of the furious Whig Party members turned red as they threw their materials up into the air.

Papers flew all around the Parliament Hall as Lord and others slammed the table and rose.

“This is outrageous!”

“Wellington, we demand that you resign immediately!”

Those loyal to Wellington, upon hearing this, were filled with rage.

They instinctively wanted to draw their swords, but when they reached for their waists, they realized they hadn’t brought anything.

Yet this did not stop the generals, long retired from the battlefield, from rolling up their sleeves to aid their former commander.

But before they could charge forward, several generals were held back by Sir Peel and others.

While restraining one of the Marquis of Angelsey’s legs, Sir Peel gritted his teeth and comforted him, “Don’t be hasty; this is all arranged by His Grace.

If you go up and throw punches now, you will waste all his efforts today.”

Viscount Palmeston, sitting directly opposite Sir Peel, just gave a slight smile upon seeing this.

Soon after, he quickly composed himself, stood up, and shouted to the Speaker, “Henry Temple Palmeston, hereby, requests the Speaker that the Whig Party wants to formally initiate a no-confidence motion against Wellington’s Cabinet next week in Parliament!”