The divisions between the conservative and radical groups in the Assembly continued after the 1887 election, as did the instability.

After two years, the more radical Cockburn group replaced the Playford government, and took the parliament into the election.

Since the inaugural 1857 election, no parties or solid groupings had been formed, which resulted in frequent changes of the Premier.

If for any reason the incumbent Premier lost sufficient support through a successful motion of no confidence at any time on the floor of the house, he would tender his resignation to the Governor of South Australia, which would result in another member deemed to have the support of the House of Assembly being sworn in by the Governor as the next Premier.

However, from the 1887 election there began a growing informal division between groups of members who were loosely described as ‘conservative’ and ‘radical’ by the press.