Role of individuals in pressures for reforms

Charles Booth

Booth conducted research in London, between 1886 and 1903. After interviews with the poor, doctors, teachers and priests, he came to the conclusion that 30% of people in London lived in poverty.

Booth claimed that people were in poverty if they earned less than 21 shillings per week. He produced a collection of reports entitled ‘Life and Labour of the People in London '.

His findings proved that poverty led to illness and death and that the poor were not to blame for the condition they found themselves in.

Seebohm Rowntree

Seebohm Rowntree conducted research in York between 1899-1901.…