B: Most significant electoral reform

1832 increase in electorate size

now a uniform fanchise system for boroughs and coutnies, nearly 1/5 of males could now vote, 60% increase in electorate size

1832 redistribution

145 borough seats abolished, 44 new borough seats created, mostly in industrial towns and cities

1832 impact on contested elections

1802-1832 30% of seats contested, 1832-1862 50% of seats contested

1867 impact on electorate size

1/3 males could vote

1867 impact on regional elecotrate

Leeds electorate increased fourfold- many northern cities and towns now had bigger electorates

1867 elimination of seats

boroughs with a population below 10,000 lost one or both of their MPs- bribery was no longer worthwhile

1867 creation of seats

11 new constituencies were created (mainly Northern Cities)

1867 impact on parties

increase in electorate size, especially in cities, led to increased professionalisation

1872 Secret Ballot Act

reduced pressure that landlords or employers could exert- Home Rule movement grew dramatically over the next 20 years

1883 Corrupt Practises Act

ended the culture of electoral corruption, 1885 election total expenditure fell by 3/4

1884-85 electorate size

rose by 84% to 5.5million- majority of the electorate was now working class

1884-85 redistribution

160 seats were redistributed, so there was now roughly 1 seat for a population of 50,000

1884-85 impact of redisribtuion on MPs

for the first time, MPs drawn from industry and commerce outnumbered those related to the aristocracy

1918 electorate size

tripled by enfranchising 5m men and 8m women

1918 constituencies

uniform, single member of 70,000

1918 class constituencies

the no. of seats where miners made up at least 30% of the electorate rose from 35 to 55

1918 MP diversity

75% of Labour MPs had only received an elementary education

1928 electorate

added 5.2m women to the electorate, 14.5m female voters, 12.25 male voters

1867 example increased professionalisation

National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Associations had 791 local associations affiliated to it by 1877