Why did the Tories Oppose Parliametary Reform? Why did the Whigs Support Parliamentary Reform?

Question 1

Why did the Tory Party Oppose Parliamentary Reform, 1815-30? (part one)

Answer 1

• Tories were always opposed to Parliamentary Reform
• Fear of Revolution - Tories associated reform and change with radicalism and revolution
• Preserve the status quo - Tories traditionally resisted change and wanted to maintain the status quo. As such the Tories were satisfied with the existing system i.e. saw issues as more important than representation.

Question 2

Why did the Tory Party Oppose Parliamentary Reform, 1815-30? (part two)

Answer 2

• Saw Parliamentary Reform as a threat to law and order and possible to the Tories privileged position i.e. landed aristocracy
• Popular protest 1815-20: Tories wanted to maintain law and order i.e. Liverpool’s repression; Main focus was law and order rather reform; many of the protests of the period called for Parliamentary Reform = link back to point about fear of Revolution

Question 3

Why did the Whigs Support Parliamentary Reform, 1815-30? (part one)

Answer 3

• The Whigs had been out of power for a generation
• Whigs had traditionally been in favour of reform including Parliamentary Reform e.g. attempts at Parliamentary Reform in the C18th were put forward by Whigs
• The ‘mood’ for Reform existed before the Whigs came to power e.g. Earl Grey: ‘we did not cause the excitement about Reform. We found it in full vigour when we came into office’ = The Whigs had to deal with the circumstances when they came into office.
• The Whigs had some M/C MPs they hoped that Parliamentary Reform would help these M/C MPs

Question 4

Why did the Whigs Support Parliamentary Reform, 1815-30? (part two)

Answer 4

• The Whigs hoped that Parliamentary Reform would be to their advantage and make the Tories irrelevant and unelectable i.e. securing power for the Whigs for years to come.
• The Whigs were only in favour of moderate and cautious reform and not the type of Parliamentary Reform demanded by the Radicals
• Fear of Revolution - the fear that if Parliamentary Reform was not introduced it could lead to revolutionary situation in Britain - think Reform Crisis 1830-32 and May Days 1832