In 1880, Stead went to London to be assistant editor of the Liberal "Pall Mall Gazette" (a forerunner of the "London Evening Standard"), where he set about revolutionizing a traditionally conservative newspaper "written by gentlemen for gentlemen". When its editor, John Morley, was elected to Parliament, Stead took over the role (1883–1889). When Morley was made Secretary of State for Ireland, Gladstone asked the new cabinet minister if he were confident that he could deal with that most distressful country. Morley replied that, if he could manage Stead, he could manage anything.