Sir, Disraeli’s hopes for the Conservative Party were not dashed when he lost the 1868 election following his sponsorship of the 1867 Reform Act (letters, Oct 12, 13).
A key feature of the 1867 Act was the enfranchisement of urban working-class heads-of-households provided they personally paid local rates. Many such occupiers would not agree, and so forfeited the right to vote. In 1869 the Act was amended so as to enable them to vote while forgoing personal payment. Thus it was the 1874 election that gave the Tories a parliamentary majority for the first time since 1841.
Geoffrey Alderman
University of Buckingham