Reform Act 1867

Representation of the People Act 1867[1]
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act further to amend the Laws relating to the Representation of the People in England and Wales.
Citation30 & 31 Vict. c. 102
Territorial extent United Kingdom
Dates
Royal assent15 August 1867
Other legislation
Amended byStatute Law Revision Act 1875
Relates toReform Act 1884
Status: Partially repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Representation of the People Act 1867 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.
Contemporary cartoon of Disraeli outpacing Gladstone (left) at The Derby, parodying the perceived victor in debates in a split Liberal-led Commons while Disraeli's fellow Conservative, Lord Derby led as Prime Minister from the House of Lords.

The Representation of the People Act 1867 (30 & 31 Vict. c. 102), known as the Reform Act 1867 or the Second Reform Act, is an act of the British Parliament that enfranchised part of the urban male working class in England and Wales for the first time, extending the franchise from landowners of freehold property above a certain value, to leaseholders and rental tenants as well. It took effect in stages over the next two years, culminating in full commencement on 1 January 1869.[2][3]

Before the act, one million of the seven million adult men in England and Wales could vote; the act immediately doubled that number. Further, by the end of 1868 all male heads of household could vote, having abolished the widespread mechanism of the deemed rentpayer or ratepayer being a superior lessor or landlord who would act as middleman for the money paid ("compounding"). The act introduced a near-negligible redistribution of seats, far short of the urbanisation and population growth since 1832.

The overall intent was to help the Conservative Party, Benjamin Disraeli expecting a reward for his sudden and sweeping backing of the reforms discussed, yet it resulted in their loss of the 1868 general election.

  1. ^ This short title was conferred on this Act by section 1 of this Act.
  2. ^ Smith 1966.
  3. ^ "Notes Upon 'the Representation of the People Act, 1867' (30 & 31 Vict. C. 102.): With Appendices Concerning the Antient Rights, the Rights Conferred by the 2 & 3 Will. IV C. 45, Population, Rental, Rating, and the Operation of the Repealed Enactments as to Compound Householders", Thomas Chisholm Anstey, pp. 26, 169–172.