The defeat at the front intensified the infighting within the London Government. Coupled with the political scandals from some time ago, Prime Minister John Russell was forced to resign.
The Whig Party suffered defeat in the new election. The Peelites and the Conservative Party formed a coalition government, and George Hamilton Gordon stepped onto the stage of history.
A new government brought a new atmosphere. For the George Hamilton Gordon government, the most important matter at hand was the Near East War.
Retreat was out of the question. This concerned Britain's international standing. This was now an age of two great powers, Britain and Russia. If the London Government retreated at this moment, it would be admitting defeat before the Russians—effectively acknowledging Russia's status as world hegemon.
Never mind the devastating losses of interest; the blow to national morale alone was something the British public could not accept.
As the leader of the anti-war faction, George Hamilton Gordon understood John Russell's predicament. This was a war that had to be fought.
No matter how great the casualties, they had to fight on. If they did not curb Russian expansion now, the price the British Empire would pay in the future would only be greater.
10 Downing Street
"Gentlemen, it is now our turn to clean up this mess. The situation on the Balkan front is extremely unfavorable to us. According to the reports from the front, the allied forces could be utterly defeated at any moment.
"The question now is whether we should continue opening a second front—or rather, a third front," George Hamilton Gordon asked.
It was clear that Prime Minister George Hamilton Gordon was far from calm. The few creases between his brows had already betrayed the unease in his heart.
First Lord of the Admiralty James Graham