Oliver Cromwell was harshly blamed from the Restoration till the late 18th century when he began to be seen as the protector of freedom and Protestantism. The 19th century witnessed the enthusiasm and even cult of Cromwell, ignited by Thomas Carlyle and other writers. The effort to erect the statue of Cromwell in Westminster Palace was initiated in the 1840’s following the advice of the reports of the Royal Commission on Fine Arts. The Parliamentary debates on Cromwell’s statue, 1840-1900, demonstrate interesting alliances and divisions between various sectors of British Politics. Before 1890, the focus was on whether Cromwell was a murderer/despot or a freedom seeker, and the division was made rather simply between Liberals and Tories. By the time the issue was raised again in 1894, British politics had become much more complicated because of the rise of the Irish Nationalist Party and the defection of the Liberal Unionists from the Liberal Party. Cromwell was most hated by the Irish due to the 1641 massacre. Irish representatives were most vigorously opposed to the statue. When the budget for the statue was frustrated by the allied attack from the Irish representatives and Tories, Lord Rosebery, the Liberal Prime Minister, offered to cover all expenses. The statue was finally unveiled in November 1899, the tercentenary year of Cromwell’s birth. However, criticism continued to be heard in the Parliament. This time critical voices were limited to the Irish while the Tories decided to acquiesce as they felt uncomfortable with being the ally of the Irish Nationalists. The controversy over Cromwell’s statue points to the interesting finding that ideology was overshadowed by national feelings in 19th century British politics.