Note 33 — Chapter III · PARLIAMENTS AND ELECTIONEERING UNDER JAMES II., WILLIAM III., AND QUEEN ANNE.

The term “Tacker” was due to the chief member for Oxford University, William Bromley, having, in the session just closed, moved “That the Bill to prevent occasional nonconformity might be tacked to the Land Tax Bill.” The practice of tacking was condemned by the Lords, most of whom had signed a resolution to the effect they would never admit a “tack” to a money-bill. The party in the Commons strove vigorously to carry their point upon two bills being thus conjoined, whence they began to be known as “the Tackers.” In return, they stigmatized their opponents as “Sneakers.”