Tag: Electoral independence

portrait of a young man in 18th-century dress
Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Constituencies, Elections, Factions, Frederick North, 2nd earl of Guilford, George III, Georgian, Local History, Parties, William Pitt the Younger

‘of all others most desirable’: Pitt the Younger and elections for Cambridge

From the onset of his lengthy political career, William Pitt the Younger had his eyes fixed on representing his alma mater, the University of Cambridge. Writing to his mother in July 1779, he observed that the University seat was ‘of all others most desirable, as being free from expense, perfectly independent, and I think in every respect extremely honourable’. In this latest guest post for … Continue reading ‘of all others most desirable’: Pitt the Younger and elections for Cambridge

History of ParliamentLeave a comment
Tudor, 16th Century history, Elections, Social history

Electoral Independence in Tudor England

As the election campaign continues, so does our series of blogposts on historic campaigning. Today, all constituencies are contested and the electorate freely cast their votes. In Tudor England the concept of electoral freedom was honoured more in principle than in practice, as Dr Simon Payling, Senior Fellow of the Commons 1422-1504 section, explains… Tudor elections were functional rather than competitive, in other words, they … Continue reading Electoral Independence in Tudor England

Simon PaylingLeave a comment