▁second ▁prime ▁min istry ▁of ▁ 1 8 8 0 – 1 8 8 5 ; ▁however , ▁he ▁knew ▁that ▁passing ▁it ▁through ▁Parliament , ▁particularly ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁L ords , ▁would ▁be ▁very ▁troubles ome . ▁Therefore , ▁Glad stone ▁had ▁sought ▁cross - party ▁agreement ▁on ▁the ▁issue ▁of ▁home ▁rule , ▁thinking ▁that ▁the ▁Conserv atives ▁should ▁pass ▁to ▁make ▁it ▁easier ▁to ▁get ▁it ▁through ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁L ords . ▁Catholic ▁E man cip ation ▁in ▁ 1 8 2 9 , ▁Corn ▁La ws ▁repe al ▁in ▁ 1 8 4 6 , ▁and ▁the ▁Reform ▁Act ▁ 1 8 6 7 ▁had ▁been ▁all ▁cross - party ▁acts ▁passed ▁by ▁Conserv ative ▁govern ments . ▁ ▁Glad stone ▁also ▁felt ▁that ▁the ▁Elect oral ▁Act ▁of ▁ 1 8 8 4 , ▁which ▁increased ▁the ▁franch ise , ▁would ▁give ▁him ▁increased ▁and ▁perhaps ▁permanent ▁major ities ▁in ▁subsequent ▁elections . ▁Form er ly ▁a ▁Conserv ative ▁MP , ▁he ▁was ▁now ▁head ▁of ▁the ▁Liberal ▁Party , ▁and ▁considered ▁that ▁support ▁from ▁the ▁Irish ▁Home ▁Rule ▁MP s ▁would ▁further ▁strength en ▁his ▁position ▁in ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Commons . ▁The ▁Irish ▁Party ▁was ▁then ▁a ▁third ▁force ▁in ▁parliament . ▁ ▁Meanwhile , ▁in ▁London ▁on ▁ 1 ▁August ▁ 1 8 8 5 ▁the ▁Conserv ative ▁minister ▁Lord ▁Car nar von , ▁Vic ero y ▁of ▁Ireland , ▁had ▁met ▁Charles ▁Stewart ▁Par nell , ▁the ▁Irish ▁Home ▁Rule ▁leader ,