How did the introduction of county elections change politics?

Britain – Politics, 1885-1902

In this course, Professor Jeremy Black (University of Exeter) discusses politics from 1885 to 1902. In the first module, we look at how the introduction of county elections changed politics. Then, we look at the impact of the Third Reform Act of 1884. After this, we look at how the Conservative Party responded to the changes in politics. Following this, we look at why the Liberal Party struggled in the 1880s and 1890s. In the penultimate module, we look at the impact of the Liberal Unionist Party on politics. Finally, we look at why the Conservatives were able to adapt to more democratic elections.

How did the introduction of county elections change politics?

In this module, we look at how the introduction of county elections changed politics. In particular, we focus on the key questions: (i) Why is local government crucial to understanding late Victorian politics?; (ii) What changes occurred in local government during the late Victorian period?; (iii) How did the establishment of County Councils impact local elites and political accountability?; (iv) What was the relationship between local and national politics during this period?; and (v) How did the new electoral dynamics influence party organisations and partisanship?