GRA (UP) - Whig aims and motives for (limited) reform

• Some Whigs had been calling for moderate reform for years because of the corrupt system that fuelled radical arguments. 
• For example Early Grey had previously been part of the Society of the Friends of the People and propsed moderate reform bills during the 1790s. 

• Whigs believed change was long overdue
• The Industrial Revolution was causing social and economic changes, including the rise of a proprited m/c. 
• The political system, dominated by landed u/c was now out of step with new economic and social forces.
• Grey argued that the system was outdated and that any men of property in the m/c should have a say in the running of the country 

• Disenfranchised m/c and l/c  were bitter and forming an alliance
• This was dangerous because the m/c had money and the l/c had numbers
• By welcoming the m/c into the franchise, it was hoped that a sweeping revolution would be avoided
• The m/c would join the u/c in a broad property-owning alliance that supported the constituion. 

• If m/c were given the vote they would not want to destroy the political system. 
• They would rather defend and rally for the aristocratic system.
• This would mean the aristocracy's power and right to govern would be saved by showing it is flexible and adaptive. 

• A moderate reform would end speculation and give a once-only permanent change to end all grounds for any future complaints or changes

• Unrest was increasing and unusually widespread between 1828-30
• Small reform that was manageable would dampen this but repression would risk revolution. Dangerous public unrest would be defused efficiently 

• Many Tories got into Parliament because of the seats in rotten and pocket boroughs. The Whigs wanted to abolish these seats
• A m/c electorate would be grateful to the Whigs and vote for them and give them support
• Making reform appear sweeping may provoke fierce Tory opposition. This would make them unpopular
• Timing: Tory splits between 1828 and 1830 over RCE and parliamentary reform made it a good time to push through change while the Tories were too unorganised to oppose it 

• Accept that moderate reform must be taken to make the key features of the existing system acceptable, rather than be forced to destroy the system and create a new radical democratic system.
• Allowing moderate reform would be a conservative tactic to avoid extreme radical democracy
• Even Grey was against annual parliaments, universal suffrage and secret ballots - see quote

K ey features of exisiting system preserved

O utdated political system

A void a dangerous m/c and w/c alliance

L ong term policy since 1790s

A uthoirty of aristocracy saved

P ermanent fix to prevent future change

A void revolution by solving political and economic unrest

W hig Party advantage over Tories