The Third Reform Act - 1884 & The Redistribution Act - 1885

Question 1

What changes did 1884 bring?

Answer 1

Household suffrage and lodger franchise was extended to the counties
2 in 3 men can now vote (adding 2.5M voters)
Agricultural labourers and miners could now vote
Decline of aristocracy was sped up (extension of county franchise)

Question 2

What evidence is there of continuity following 1884?

Answer 2

complexities of registration/residential qualification meant many did not vote
Plural voting continued (500,000 in 1911)
Soldiers, those on poor relief etc. still did not have the vote

Question 3

Was there evidence of popular pressure causing 1884?

Answer 3

No - There was no significant popular demand for parliamentary reform in 1884

Question 4

What evidence is there of pressure from within Government?

Answer 4

Gladstone - Keen to restore popularity/satisfy radical critics
Chamberlain (Radical) - Needed reform bill to restore his reputation
Salisbury (Conservative leader) - Realised franchise extension would not be disastrous for his party, if they could shape redistribution (believes Liberals will be split over reform). Arlington Street Compact - Meant Conservative and Liberal would be split by boundaries, led to ‘Villa Toryism’

Question 5

What did the Redistribution Act (1885) change?

Answer 5

Boroughs with populations <15,000 lose their MPs, boroughs <50,000 lose 1 MP
150 Seats redistributed to more densely populated areas (e.g. Yorkshire, growing cities)

Question 6

What was the significance of these changes?

Answer 6

London’s MPs increased, 22 to 59
Counties and boroughs became more separate, counties protected from influence of borough electorate
Conservatives benefitted from radical cities being split into several divisions - began to win most seats in London (compared to 0 in 1865)

Question 7

What is the evidence of pressure from within Govt., and outside of it?

Answer 7

Within - Gladstone - Influence re-distribution by ensuring newly drawn boundaries created suburban areas out of the big cities (Villa Toryism). Arlington Street Compact, conservative price for agreeing to reform
External Pressure - No popular demand for redistribution in 1885