Introduction 1 Formative Influences 2 The Rising Politician 3 The Second Reform Act 4 The Conscience of the Party 5 The Making of a Statesman 6 The Eastern Question and the Foreign Office 7 A Leader in Waiting 8 The First Premiership and Ireland, 1885–6 9 The New Conservatism in Practice 10 European Security and Imperial Expansion 11 The Politics of Opposition 1892–5 12 Unionist Democracy, 1895–1900 13 The System under Strain: Diplomacy and War, 1895–1900 14 Anti-climax