The Voice of Radicalism

The Reform Act - Reform to 1850

The Burghs had different rules about who should get the vote to the Counties. It was easier to get the vote in the burghs.

Burghs

In 1832:

• Male tenants or owners, of property with an annual rental value of £10 or more, got the vote
• 2,024 men qualified to vote in Aberdeen
• Most of the new electors were middle class or shopkeepers
• There were hardly any working class electors
• Aberdeen, which included Old Aberdeen and Woodside, became a constituency on its own. It was no longer part of the Montrose burghs
• Inverbervie remained part of the Montrose Burghs, along with Brechin and Forfar
• Peterhead became a parliamentary burgh for the first time. It was added to the Elgin Burghs
• MacDuff was included in the parliamentary boundary of Banff (another Elgin Burgh)

The parliament elected in 1832 passed legislation to reform the Royal Burghs. These changes:

• Introduced elections in 1833
• Removed un-elected councillors

Counties

There was no radical change in the counties.

• It was more difficult to qualify for the vote in the countryside than in the burghs
• Small tenant farmers did not qualify to vote
• Tenants with the vote had to vote for the candidate that the laird supported
• There was no threat to the traditional rule of the landlords

As there was no reform of county government, un-elected Commissioners of Supply (rich landowners), remained in control until 1889.

Reform to 1850 >>

Historic Collections · Kings College · Old Aberdeen · AB24 3SW

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