 Realizing that another rejection would not be politically feasible , opponents of reform decided to use amendments to change the bill 's essential character ; for example , they voted to delay consideration of clauses in the bill that disfranchised the rotten boroughs . The ministers believed that they were left with only one alternative : to create a large number of new peerages , swamping the House of Lords with pro @-@ reform votes . But the prerogative of creating peerages rested with the king , who recoiled from so drastic a step and rejected the unanimous advice of his cabinet . Lord Grey then resigned , and the king invited the Duke of Wellington to form a new government . 
