Reveille was a group within the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

Conservative Party The Conservative Party is a name used by many political parties around the world. These political parties are generally right-wing though their exact ideologies can range from center-right to far-right. Political parties called The Conservative P ...

designed to pressure the party into a policy of imperialism and social reform. The origins of the group lay in the frustration of some Conservatives with what they perceived as the Party's negative defence of the ''status quo'' under the leadership of

Arthur Balfour Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, (, ; 25 July 184819 March 1930), also known as Lord Balfour, was a British Conservative Party (UK), Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1905. As F ...

in response to the

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

government's

People's Budget The 1909/1910 People's Budget was a proposal of the Liberal government that introduced unprecedented taxes on the lands and incomes of Britain's wealthy to fund new social welfare programmes. It passed the House of Commons in 1909 but was bloc ...

. On 30 August 1910 the Conservative MP

Henry Page Croft Henry Page Croft, 1st Baron Croft (22 June 1881 – 7 December 1947) was a decorated British soldier and Conservative Party politician. Early life and family He was born at Fanhams Hall in Ware, Hertfordshire, England. He was the son of Ric ...

published an article in ''

The Morning Post ''The Morning Post'' was a conservative daily newspaper published in London from 1772 to 1937, when it was acquired by ''The Daily Telegraph''. History The paper was founded by John Bell. According to historian Robert Darnton, ''The Morning Po ...

'' headed “Reveille”. He said that a "sleeping sickness" had permeated the ranks of the party, that the prospect of a Canadian trade agreement with America was dangerous for British trade and industry and that what was needed was

Imperial Preference Imperial Preference was a system of mutual tariff reduction enacted throughout the British Empire following the Ottawa Conference of 1932. As Commonwealth Preference, the proposal was later revived in regard to the members of the Commonwealth of N ...

. Soon afterwards, fellow Conservatives asked Croft to organise a campaign throughout the country. Consequently, a considerable fund was raised and Conservative Associations in the major cities organised mass meetings for Reveille members. Soon there were 100 peers and MPs in the Reveille and there was a dinner held at ''Princes'' restaurant, Piccadilly, where Croft and Lord Willoughby de Broke spoke. Present were Acland Hood, the Conservative Chief Whip, and Percival Hughes, the Conservative Chief Agent. Willoughby de Broke outlined Reveille's programme: (1) ''Defence''.—Maintenance of the supremacy of the Navy and an adequate Army. The naval programme to be completed, if necessary, by a naval loan.
(2) ''Trade Reform''.—A scientific tariff to be framed for the defence of British industries against unfair foreign competition, coupled with a scheme of industrial insurance.
(3) ''Empire Union''.—Imperial Preference for the establishment of trade partnership throughout the Empire to be immediately initiated.
(4) ''Land Reform''.—Small ownership for which facilities may be granted to working men to purchase land on easy terms, with the assistance of Government credit.
(5) ''Poor Law Reform'' to meet modern conditions.Croft, pp. 54-55.

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