Reform Act 1832 (thing)

1832 Reform Act

• 56 nomination or rotten boroughs returning 111 MPs lost their representation
• 30 boroughs with less than 4,000 inhabitants lost one MP each
• Weymouth and Melcombe Regis gave up two of their four MPs

• 65 seats were awarded to the counties
• 44 seats were distributed to 22 larger towns including Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and the new London metropolitan districts
• 21 smaller towns were given one MP each
• Scotland was awarded 8 extra seats
• Ireland was given 5 extra seats

The borough franchise was regularised. The right of voting was vested in all householders paying a yearly rental of £10 and, subject to one year residence qualification £10 lodgers (if they were sharing a house and the landlord was not in occupation).

In the counties, the franchise was granted to:

• 40 shilling freeholders
• £10 copyholders
• £50 tenants
• £10 long lease holders
• £50 medium lease holders
• Borough freeholders could vote in the counties if their freehold was between 40 shillings and £10, or if it was over £10 and occupied by a tenant.