The Peel Web

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The 1832 Reform Act

It took eighteen months for the Reform Act to go through parliament; the legislation came after public meetings, demonstrations, riots and potentially a revolution. The Whig government under Earl Grey was opposed by the Tories led by the Duke of Wellington who, ultimately, allowed the Bill to pass by telling the Tory Lords not to oppose the Bill any longer. The following is a summary of the legislation; specific clauses may be found here

Disenfranchisement Clauses

• 56 nomination or rotten boroughs returning 111 MPs lost their representation
• 30 boroughs with less than 4,000 inhabitants lost one MP each
• Weymouth and Melcombe Regis gave up two of their four MPs

Enfranchisement

• 65 seats were awarded to the counties
• 44 seats were distributed to 22 larger towns including Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and the new London metropolitan districts
• 21 smaller towns were given one MP each
• Scotland was awarded 8 extra seats
• Ireland was given 5 extra seats

Franchise Qualification

The borough franchise was regularised. The right of voting was vested in all householders paying a yearly rental of £10 and, subject to one year residence qualification £10 lodgers (if they were sharing a house and the landlord was not in occupation).

In the counties, the franchise was granted to:

• 40 shilling freeholders
• £10 copyholders
• £50 tenants
• £10 long lease holders
• £50 medium lease holders
• Borough freeholders could vote in the counties if their freehold was between 40 shillings and £10, or if it was over £10 and occupied by a tenant.