Perilous Question - The Drama Of The Great Reform Bill 1832

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0120130513The struggle for the Great Reform Bill of 1832 took place a the crossroads of English history.' - so says Antonia Fraser in her lively and insightful account of the political change that took place during this period.

Times were in flux. The Industrial Revolution was underway. The reverberations of the French Revolution were still being felt. And the country would be ruled by a new monarch, William IV.

And political change, who and how we would vote, was now in the spotlight. Put there mainly by the

Whigs - led by Earl Grey.

Age-old corruption, rotten boroughs, even hereditary peers would feel these winds of change. But how would the Bill be made law? Bumpily and dramatically, as it turned out, and its path is followed in five episodes, which are abridged by Katrin Williams:

1. It is the beginning of the 1830's. One king has died, another has been toppled,

and the word 'reform' is in the air. But who will press for it?

Reader Adrian Scarborough

Producer Duncan Minshull.

It's the beginning of the 1830s. 'Reform' is in the air, but who will press for it?

0220130514The struggle for the Great Reform Bill of 1832 took place a the crossroads of English history.' - so says Antonia Fraser in her lively and insightful account of the political change that took place during this period.

Times were in flux. The Industrial Revolution was underway. The reverberations of the French Revolution were still being felt. And the country would be ruled by a new monarch, William IV.

And political change, who and how we would vote, was now in the spotlight. Put there mainly by the

Whigs - led by Earl Grey.

Age-old corruption, rotten boroughs, even hereditary peers would feel these winds of change. But how would the Bill be made law? Bumpily and dramatically, as it turned out, and its path is followed in five episodes, which are abridged by Katrin Williams:

2. The characters behind the story of Reform are a vivid lot -

Lord Grey, the Duke Of Wellington, Thomas Attwood, William IV. Also,

a special committee was formed to speed the destiny of the Bill...

Reader Adrian Scarborough.

In the early 1830s, the Whigs led the push for parliamentary reform, but who were they?

0320130515The struggle for the Great Reform Bill of 1832 took place a the crossroads of English history.' - so says the author in her lively and insightful account of the political change that took take place during this period.

Times were in flux. The Industrial Revolution was underway. The reverberations of the French Revolution were still being felt. And the country would be ruled by a new monarch, William IV.

And political change, who and how we would vote, was now in the spotlight. Put there mainly by the

Whigs - led by Earl Grey.

Age-old corruption, rotten boroughs, even hereditary peers would feel these winds of change. But how would the Bill be made law? Bumpily and dramatically, as it turned out, and its path is followed in five episodes, which are abridged by Katrin Williams:

3. The bill to reform our voting system goes through the House of Commons but its

passage in the Lords is spectacularly blocked.

Reader Adrian Scarborough.

In the summer of 1831, the mood for voting 'reform' feels revolutionary for some.

0420130516The struggle for the Great Reform Bill of 1832 took place a the crossroads of English history.' - so says Antonia Fraser in her lively and insightful account of the political change took take place during this period.

Times were in flux. The Industrial Revolution was underway. The reverberations of the French Revolution were still being felt. And the country would be ruled by a new monarch, William IV.

And political change, who and how we would vote, was now in the spotlight. Put there mainly by the

Whigs - led by Earl Grey.

Age-old corruption, rotten boroughs, even hereditary peers would feel these winds of change. But how would the Bill be made law? Bumpily and dramatically, as it turned out, and its path is followed in five episodes, which are abridged by Katrin Williams:

4. Reform of Parliament is stalling, the Bill cannot get through. So the Mob is on the streets of Sherbourne and Bristol. In fact, unrest seems likely everywhere..

Reader Adrian Scarborough

Producer Duncan Minshull.

After the House of Lords blocks voting reform, unrest spills out onto the streets.

05 LAST20130517The struggle for the Great Reform Bill of 1832 took place a the crossroads of English history.' - so says Antonia Fraser in her lively and insightful account of the political change that took take place during this period.

Times were in flux. The Industrial Revolution was underway. The reverberations of the French Revolution were still being felt. And the country would be ruled by a new monarch, William IV.

And political change, who and how we would vote, was now in the spotlight. Put there mainly by the

Whigs - led by Earl Grey.

Age-old corruption, rotten boroughs, even hereditary peers would feel these winds of change. But how would the Bill be made law? Bumpily and dramatically, as it turned out, and its path is followed in five episodes, which are abridged by Katrin Williams:

5. Reform of Britain's voting system wins the day and the Bill becomes law. 'It is difficult

to believe that it is done' - is the consensus, after months of dramatic debate and

hand-wringing..

Reader Adrian Scarborough.

Producer Duncan Minshull.

After violence on the streets, can Parliament finally agree on political reform?