Gladstone's Second Ministry {HOME}

The Franchise Act, 1884

• In the counties, the vote was given to all male householders over 21 and £10 lodgers
• A £10 occupier franchise was created for those living in shops or offices
• The older franchises still applied

Terms of the Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885

• Boroughs with a population under 15,000 lost both their MPs
• Boroughs with a population under 50,000 lost one MP
• 142 seats were redistributed

Corrupt Practices Act (1883)

• Closed the loopholes that allowed corruption to continue from the Secret Ballot Act
• Candidate's election expenses were set to a specified limit
• Made clear what campaign moeny could be spent on
• Election agents had to produce accounts
• Clearly defined illegal and corrupt practices and introduced stiff fines and prison sentences for anyone breaking the law
• Win support through promoting better policies

The Protection of Person and Property Act (Coercion Act)

• Anyone suspected of involvement in illegal activities would be imprisoned for indefinite periods without trial
• Suspension of Habeau Corpus

The Land Act (1881)

• 3 Fs
• Special Land Courts set up to established a fair rent and both landowner and tenant were to be bound by the court's decision
• Rent was to be fixed for 15 years
• Tenant was safe from eviction as long as he paid the rent and the rent could not be raised against a tenant's improvements
• No definition of what fair rent was
• Easier for tenants to buy lank
• Assistance came from government loan schemes