Reform Act 1832

The British Reform Act of 1832 (2 & 3 Will. 4, c.45; also referred to as as the Great Reform Act) introduced the first changes to electoral franchise legislation in almost one hundred and fifty years. It met strong opposition from the Tories, who had defeated earlier bills, and it required pressure on William IV and the resignation of Earl Grey's Whig government to pass. During the third reading in the Commons, the motion was carried with a government majority of one vote.

Scotland and Ireland

In Scotland, there was not a substantial change in the way the counties were represented; as a general rule the counties each continued to elect one member each. However before the Act six small counties only elected an MP in alternate years, this was changed so that three new constituencies each consisted of two counties. Edinburgh and Glasgow now had two MPs; Aberdeen, Dundee, Greenock, Paisley and Perth one each. The remaining Burghs combined in districts to elect 18 MPs, much as before; but now individual votes were added up among burghs across the constituency — in the past the MP had been elected at a meeting of representatives from each burgh.

Related Topics:
Edinburgh - Glasgow - Aberdeen - Dundee - Greenock - Paisley - Perth

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Ireland's representation remained unchanged.

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