Democracy in Britain - Getting elected as an MP

2. Anyone can be elected
In a democracy it is important
that all members of the public
have the chance to be elected,
if they wish to do so.
In Britain it was actually very
hard for anyone other than rich
people to afford elections or
live as an MP.

3. Property Qualification
for Members of
Parliament Act, 1858
Before 1858 it was only
possible to be an MP if you
were a landowner,
receiving an income from
your land.
This was scrapped in 1858.

4. Edward Glover was
elected as an MP but then
removed and imprisoned
after it transpired he did not
have the required land.
It was rumoured that up to
half of MPs lied about their
property. Many people
wanted the rule scrapped
and Glover’s case won
sympathy for this.
Newgate Prison, where
Glover was held

5. Corrupt and Illegal
Practices Act, 1883
Introduced spending limits in
elections and described what
money could be spent on.
Limit was £710 per 2000
voters and £40 for each
additional 1000 voters;
banned spending on food,
alcohol, etc.

6. Paid MPs, 1911
In the 1911 Parliament Act,
MPs were paid for the first
time.
They received £400 per year,
higher than the average wage
at the time.
This allowed anyone to afford
to become an MP.

7. Secret ballots, 1872
The introduction of secret
ballots meant that voters could
vote for who they choose,
rather than be influenced.
This meant that more working
class candidates could be
elected.

8. Anyone can be an MP
Even after changes it was
still expensive to campaign
(thousands of pounds per
election), and most people
couldn’t afford this.
Also two main parties were
most likely to select people
from wealthier backgrounds.

9. Qualification of Women
Act, 1918
Women aged 21+ were now
allowed to stand for election.
The first women MP to take
her seat was Nancy Astor.
However the first woman
elected was Sinn Fein
candidate Constance
Markievicz.

10. Qualification of
Women Act, 1918
Strangely women age
21+ could stand for
election, they could not
all vote in the election.
Only some women aged
30+ had the right to vote
in 1918, which didn’t
change until 1928.