Decline of the Aristocracy

Civil services act 1782

This eliminated 130 sinecure positions which had been the privilege of the aristocracy.

The 1832 reform act

This abolished rotten boroughs and pocket boroughs although aristocracy still held power over alot of small boroughs. The wealthy middle class was now enfranchised meaning by 1841, 20% of all MPs were middle class. It still remained that the overwhelming majority of MPs, PMs and cabinet ministers were aristocrats. Peel was the only PM across the 30 years after not to be an aristocrat.

Removal of property qualification 1858

This had no immediate impact but it did create space for later reforms to have a larger effect.

Repeal of Corn Laws 1846

This cut profits of the landed class significantly as a free market on grain returned.

2nd Reform Act 1867

This expanded the electorate beyond those that the aristocracy could control and increased the need for organised, defined parties but the landed classes continued to dominate parties and hang on to small boroughs which they could control.

Secret Ballots and corrupt and Illegal practices acts 1872 and 1883

These combined to prevent the tactics the aristocracy had used for centuries to win seats and set a new requirement for strong party organisation in order to get volunteers. Money could no longer be used to swing elections and prison sentences were a strong enforcer. this was a huge turning point in the decline.

Inheritance tax 1894

This placed a tax on the transfer of estates reducing the economic might of the aristocracy.

Reform Act 1884-5

This enfranchised the working class further and removed boroughs of less than 15,000 people to create suburban middles class seats. By 1906, aristocracy was only 10% of all MPs.

Parliament Act 1911

Firmly established parliament as supreme, introduced salaries for MPs, allowed the government to levy super taxes on landowners for benefit reforms. The bill still allowed for hereditary peer creation and for the lords to block a bill up to three times or for 2 years

Final blows 1914-28

During this era, WW1, The representation of the people act 1918 and 28, Labour were then elected into minority government in 1924. These changes removed any last power but they were still overrepresented in politics - there were still 7 Lords in Baldwin’s government.