Building Britain: Gladstone & Disraeli part 1

Benjamin Disraeli plots his progress

Benjamin Disraeli and William Gladstone were two of the most brilliant politicians of their era and dominated Westminster for a generation.

But, as Carole Walker discovers in the latest episode of Building Britain, the great rivalry was more than just a political one.

Since entering politics within just four years of one another in the 1830s, their careers inter-twined as each climbed the "greasy pole" of party politics.

Building Britain Part 1: The Glorious Revolution Part 2: The first prime minister Part 3: The Great Reform Act Part 5: Gladstone & Disraeli part 2

They were very different men: Gladstone the passionate, religious, idealist; Disraeli the eloquent, sarcastic, opportunist.

But it wasn't until 1852 that a bloody encounter in the Commons ignited a mutual distrust which soon led to bitterness and even hatred.

Disraeli's undoing

The occasion was Disraeli's first budget as Tory Chancellor. Of the two he had been first to reach high office, but his ill judged five hour speech did not bode well.

After four days listening to his critics pull apart his budget, Disraeli lost patience and unleashed a barrage of insults on his opponents.

Only then, after Disraeli took his seat, did Gladstone rise to challenge him. He not only tore into the Chancellor's budget, but publicly chastised him on his conduct in the House.

The result was a catastrophic defeat for the Tory Government and an end to Disraeli's first, brief term in office.

To make matters worse, it was Gladstone who replaced him at the Treasury.

But Disraeli would have to wait another fifteen years to take revenge on his rival. And when he did, he did so in spectacular style, not only bringing down the Liberal Government, but introducing one of the biggest political reforms in a generation.

You can watch the latest in BBC Parliament's series about the evolution of the UK's Parliament from 1340 BST on Thursday 3 June.