Opposition to the Education Act 1902 thumb|upright|Lloyd George in 1902 On 24 March Arthur Balfour, just about to take office as Prime Minister, introduced a bill which was to become the Education Act 1902. Lloyd George supported the bill's proposals to bring voluntary schools (i.e. religious schools—mainly Church of England, and some Roman Catholic schools in certain inner city areas) in England and Wales under the control of local school boards, who would conduct inspections and appoint two out of each school's six managers. However, other measures were more contentious: the majority-religious school managers would retain the power to employ or sack teachers on religious grounds and would receive money from the rates (local property taxes). This offended nonconformist opinion, then in a period of revival, as it seemed like a return to the hated church rates (which had been compulsory until 1868), and inspired a large grassroots campaign against the bill.
Opposition to the Education Act 1902 thumb|upright|Lloyd George in 1902 On 24 March Arthur Balfour just about to take office as Prime Minister introduced a bill which was to become the Education Act 1902 Lloyd George supported the bill's proposals to bring voluntary schools (ie religious schools—mainly Church of England and some Roman Catholic schools in certain inner city areas) in England and Wales under the control of local school boards who would conduct inspections and appoint two out of each school's six managers However other measures were more contentious the majority-religious school managers would retain the power to employ or sack teachers on religious grounds and would receive money from the rates (local property taxes) This offended nonconformist opinion then in a period of revival as it seemed like a return to the hated church rates (which had been compulsory until 1868) and inspired a large grassroots campaign against the bill