Publisher's Synopsis
The passing of the second Parliamentary Reform bill in 1867 was one of the most important events in British political history. Drawing on the personal papers of the principle players - Gladstone, Russel and Disraeli, Professor Smith offers a detailed account of the passing of the Bill, the defeat of its predecessor in 1866, and the political motivations of the leading figures.;Light is also shed on the role of back-benchers from all parties in determining the fate of the franchise proposals, and the whole narrative is set in a context of rapid social change and popular agitation.
