the prime minister at the outset of the depression, benjamin disraeli, had once been a staunch upholder of the corn laws and had predicted ruin for agriculture if they were repealed. however, unlike most other european governments, his government did not revive tariffs on imported cereals to save their farms and farmers. despite calls from landowners to reintroduce the corn laws, disraeli responded by saying that the issue was settled and that protection was impracticable. ensor claimed that the difference between britain and the continent was due to the latter having conscription; rural men were thought to be the best suited as soldiers, but for britain, with no conscript army, that did not apply. he also claimed that britain staked its future on continuing to be "the workshop of the world", as the leading manufacturing nation. robert blake claimed that disraeli was dissuaded from reviving protection because the urban working class was enjoying cheap imported food at a time of industrial depression and rising unemployment. enfranchised by disraeli in 1867, working men's votes were crucial in a general election and he did not want to antagonise them.