To what extent was Benjamin Disraeli’s personality was the most significant factor in the passing of the 1867 Representation of the People Act?
To what extent was Benjamin Disraeli’s personality was the most significant factor in the passing of the 1867 Representation of the People Act?
The reform act of 1867 gave the vote to all householders in the boroughs as well as lodgers who paid rent of £10 a year or more, reduced the property threshold in the counties and gave the vote to agricultural landowners and tenants with very small amounts of land . It can be argued that in fact it was a bill which was very much against the orthodox conservative values and politics. However, Disraeli’s awareness that reform was inevitable and his political manoeuvring and hunger to be the politician to revive the conservative party meant that he himself was the greatest driving force behind the Second Reform Act. There were several underlying factors influencing the Acts passing, and it could be argued that the rivalry between Gladstone and Disraeli and the social and political situation at the time were contributing factors. Despite these factors the Act relied on the utilisation of the situation by one strong minded Tory politician. Mr Benjamin Disraeli; an ambitious opportunist politically and incredibly determined man. Using his political opportunism to push the bill Disraeli managed to unite the Tories to vote for the bill on the basis that the newly enfranchised population would guarantee conservative votes at the next election. Therefore, 1867 reform bill was passed and to a large extent this was due to the personality of Disraeli.
The personality and mentality of Disraeli was a huge influence on the issuing of the 1867 Reform Act. As a man of great ambition, Disraeli had a burning desire to make himself politically famous which led him to pass a bill that ultimately sold out the conservative principals he stood for to ensure that he was known. It is convincing that the 1867 Reform Act would not have been passed without Disraeli himself as no other Conservative politician at the time would have been content
The reform act of 1867 gave the vote to all householders in the boroughs as well as lodgers who paid rent of £10 a year or more, reduced the property threshold in the counties and gave the vote to agricultural landowners and tenants with very small amounts of land . It can be argued that in fact it was a bill which was very much against the orthodox conservative values and politics. However, Disraeli’s awareness that reform was inevitable and his political manoeuvring and hunger to be the politician to revive the conservative party meant that he himself was the greatest driving force behind the Second Reform Act. There were several underlying factors influencing the Acts passing, and it could be argued that the rivalry between Gladstone and Disraeli and the social and political situation at the time were contributing factors. Despite these factors the Act relied on the utilisation of the situation by one strong minded Tory politician. Mr Benjamin Disraeli; an ambitious opportunist politically and incredibly determined man. Using his political opportunism to push the bill Disraeli managed to unite the Tories to vote for the bill on the basis that the newly enfranchised population would guarantee conservative votes at the next election. Therefore, 1867 reform bill was passed and to a large extent this was due to the personality of Disraeli.
The personality and mentality of Disraeli was a huge influence on the issuing of the 1867 Reform Act. As a man of great ambition, Disraeli had a burning desire to make himself politically famous which led him to pass a bill that ultimately sold out the conservative principals he stood for to ensure that he was known. It is convincing that the 1867 Reform Act would not have been passed without Disraeli himself as no other Conservative politician at the time would have been content