The government was defeated on a hostile motion requiring that it submit its civil list to the scrutiny of a parliamentary committee. The measure (described in the DNB entry for Wellington (1769–1852) as ‘unprecedented and offensive’) demonstrated the lack of confidence in the ministry within the House of Commons. The following day an opposition motion for parliamentary reform was to be debated, and to avoid further humiliation Wellington presented his resignation to the king.

See DNB and The Times, 16 November 1830.