Articles by Philip Salmon
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Marrying for the vote: the freedom-by-marriage franchise before 1832
Of all the bizarre voting qualifications in operation before 1832 – from potwallopers to burgage holders – one of the…
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Who could vote? From potwallopers to ten-pounders: post-1832 franchises explained
Clarifying the workings of England’s historic electoral system, Philip Salmon examines who could vote following the changes made by the…
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Sir Robert Peel and the modern Conservative party
Sir Robert Peel, twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834-35, 1841-46), entered Parliament at only 21 years of age.…
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Votes for women before and after 1832
Continuing our series on the practical workings of the UK’s historic voting system, Philip Salmon of our House of Commons, 1832-1868…
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Reporting debates in the Victorian Commons
Today we take it for granted that parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. During the Victorian era, however, there was…
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Happy New Year from the Victorian Commons for 2026!
Here’s wishing all our readers a very enjoyable New Year! 2025 was a particularly memorable year for our 1832-68 House…
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The 1832 Reform Act
‘Was the 1832 Reform Act “Great”?’ may not be the standard exam question it once was, but ongoing research about…
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The role and power of the Victorian House of Lords
Dr Philip Salmon looks at a key element of Parliament which we don’t usually have much opportunity to reflect on…
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House of Lords reform: a Victorian perspective
Unlike the House of Commons, which underwent major ‘democratic’ reform in the 19th century, the Lords remained virtually unchanged during…
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Defying the Whip: ‘rebel’ MP Swynfen Jervis (1797-1867)
On the anniversary of Swynfen Jervis’s return for Bridport in 1837, Dr Philip Salmon of the Victorian Commons explores the…
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The 1872 Secret Ballot and Multiple Member Seats
In this post about the introduction of the ballot in UK elections, based on a seminar talk (click here to…
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‘Damn the secret ballot’: the UK’s public voting system before 1872
Today (18 July) marks another anniversary of the 1872 Secret Ballot Act, a topic we examined in more detail in…