William Ewert Gladstone's Liberal government has brought forward an Irish Home Rule Bill, proposing a measure of devolution which would involve a unicameral assembly for Ireland. After two months of debate, this is defeated on its second reading, because 93 Liberal MP, including John Bright, Joseph Chamberlain and the Marquess of Hartington, ultimately vote with the Opposition against the proposal. As a result of this parliamentary defeat, the Liberal government resigns and a general election is called.