Editing Hugh M'Neile (section)

== Politician ==
In a political speech in 1834, M‘Neile expressed his opinion on the oft-expressed view that clerics should stand aside from politics: "It was said that ministers of religion should not mingle in politics; but God, when he made the minister, did not unmake the citizen."<ref>"Tory meeting at the Amphitheatre", ''The Liverpool Mercury and Lancashire General Advertiser'', (28 November 1834), p.392, col.D.</ref> A "big, impetuous, eloquent Irishman with a marvellously attractive personality and a magnificent voice",<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/a546164600balluoft#page/n218/mode/1up Balleine, 1908, p.201.]</ref> he had a considerable influence on the developing religious and political life of Liverpool:
{{Blockquote|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When he came to be Curate-in-charge of St. Jude's in 1834, the Town Council had just decided that the Corporation schools should no longer be opened with prayer, that the Bible should be banished, and a book of Scripture Extracts substituted, taken largely from the [[Douay–Rheims Bible|Douay]] [rather than the [[King James Version|King James]]] Version, and that no further religious instruction should be given during schoolhours. McNeile flung himself into the fray, and led the opposition. At a great meeting in the [[Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool|Amphitheatre]] he boldly appealed for funds to open rival schools, and £3000 was promised on the spot – an amount which in a few days increased to £10,000. A circular to the parents next persuaded them to withdraw their children; and north and south the Corporation schools were left almost empty, while the temporary buildings which the Churchmen had taken were crowded to the doors. New schools began to arise as fast as sites could be found, and the Town Council with its great majority had to own itself defeated by one who was almost a perfect stranger to the city. From that moment his power in municipal life was absolute. No Town Council again dared to dispute his will …<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/a546164600balluoft#page/n218/mode/1up Balleine, (1908), pp.201–202.]</ref>}}

In 1835,<ref>See McNeile (1911), p.265.</ref> M‘Neile entered a long dispute, in which he was eventually successful, with the Liverpool corporation, which had been captured by the [[British Whig Party|Whigs]], after the passing of the [[Municipal Reform Act]]. A proposal was carried that the [[elementary school]]s under the control of the corporation should be secularised by the introduction of what was known as the Irish National System. The threatened withdrawal of the [[Bible]] as the basis of denominational religious teaching was met by agitation led by McNeile, who so successfully enlisted public support that before the new system could be introduced every child was provided for in new Church of England schools established by public subscriptions. At the same time, M‘Neile conducted a campaign that gradually reduced the Whig element in the council until it virtually disappeared in 1841. The defeat of the Liberal parliamentary candidates in the general election of 1837, followed by a long period of [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] predominance in Liverpool politics, was largely due to his influence.<ref name="EB1911"/>