The Liberals returned to power in 1880 with a large majority and Gladstone, recognising the younger man's unequalled expertise in the field of education reform (and buoyed by his support for Irish Home Rule, Mundella being prepared to support any measures which would tranquilise unhappy Ireland), appointed him Vice-President of the Committee of the Council on Education (what would now be known as Secretary of State for Education). At the same time Mundella was also appointed a Privy Councillor. When Queen Victoria received his name from Gladstone she described him in her diary as "Mr. Mundella (one of the most violent radicals)”. She wrote that on remarking, somewhat disapprovingly, to Gladstone about Mundella's appointment "Mr. Gladstone praised him very much, saying he was a very religious man, very much for religious education, and never said anything offensive". At the same time, Mundella was also appointed the fourth Charity Commissioner for England and Wales.