He was beaten in a no confidence motion and resigned on 2 October.
Defeat on a confidence motion would prompt an early general election.
Only 1/5 of the House was required for a no confidence motion against an individual Minister.
It was first time two votes of no confidence motions were submitted.
If he had lost the confidence motion, the political crisis would have been extended while a replacement government was sought.
If a government win a confidence motion they are able to remain in office.
The agreement to support the government only extended to issues of supply and no confidence motions.
The vote today took the form of a confidence motion in the Government.
It was the first, and to date, only time which a government was brought down by a no confidence motion.
In 1898 he voted against the government on a confidence motion, effectively becoming part of the opposition.