Editing Joseph Chamberlain (section)

===1906 general election===
{{Main|1906 United Kingdom general election}}
The Liberal Party won the [[1906 United Kingdom general election|1906 general election]] by a landslide. The Unionists, divided and out of favour with many former supporters,  were reduced to just 157 seats in the House of Commons, though Chamberlain and his followers increased their majorities in the West Midlands.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Balfour lost his seat in [[Manchester East (UK Parliament constituency)|Manchester East]], and although the Unionists were now out of government for the first time in a decade, Chamberlain's position among them was at its apex. With the support of approximately 102 of the remaining 157 Unionists, Chamberlain became acting [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition]] after the election, and it appeared that he might become permanent leader or win a major concession in favour of tariff reform. Chamberlain asked for a party meeting, and Balfour (returned to the Commons) agreed on 14 February 1906 in the "[[St. Valentine's Day|Valentine]] letters" to concede that,{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

<blockquote>Fiscal Reform is, and must remain, the constructive work of the Unionist Party. That the objects of such reforms are to secure more equal terms of competition for British trade, and closer commercial union within the Colonies.</blockquote>

Although in opposition, it appeared that Chamberlain had successfully associated the Unionists with the cause of tariff reform, and Balfour would be compelled to accede to Chamberlain's future demands.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}