1-150-481 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'Political Kidnapping', 1867. Lord Russell, dressed as Mrs Russell, has had her baby Bill snatched away from her by Lord Derby, dressed as Mrs Derby. Lord Russell's Liberal government had finally fallen in the previous year after his proposals for parliamentary reform had been attacked, not only by some of his own party's MPs, but by the Conservative opposition. However, now that Lord Derby's Conservatives were in power, they had taken on the task of reform. When Queen Victoria opened the new session of parliament, the Royal Speech had included the new government's declaration that proposals for the reform of parliament would again be introduced. From Punch, or the London Charivari, February 16, 1867.