Birmingham (UK Parliament constituency)

UK former constituency infobox
Name = Birmingham
Type = Borough
Year = 1832
Abolition = 1885
members = two until 1868; then three

Birmingham was a parliamentary constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for the city of Birmingham, in what is now the West Midlands Metropolitan County, but at the time was Warwickshire.

Boundaries and History

Until 1832, excepting for the single year 1275, Birmingham was only represented in Parliament as part of the county constituency of Warwickshire.

It became a Parliamentary borough in its own right following the passage of the 1832 Reform Act and remained a single constituency electing two members of parliament until it was divided in 1885.

The 1832 Reform Act introduced a uniform borough franchise on top of ancient franchise rights in existing Parliamentary boroughs: (see the Unreformed House of Commons for a list of the different franchises in each borough). As new boroughs, like Birmingham, had no ancient franchise holders only the new franchise rules applied to them. Seymour explains that:-

Only one class of new rights was created by the act of 1832. This was the £10 occupation qualification. According to the act, the franchise was granted to all male persons who for a year before registration had occupied as owner or tenants "any house, warehouse, country house, shop or other building, either separately or jointly with any land" of a clear yearly value of £10. The land must be within the electoral limits of the borough; and in order to qualify, the occupier must have been rated in respect of such premises, to all rates for the relief of the poor; and he must have paid at the time of registration all rates and taxes due from him the preceding April.

This occupation franchise was the characteristic of the borough franchise after 1832. As ownership furnished the ordinary qualification for franchise in the counties, so in the boroughs, occupation, actual or constructive, was the basis of the suffrage. While however, in the counties no provision was made for ascertaining the true value or bona fide rent which was to qualify for the franchise; in the boroughs, assessment to the taxes was embodied with the condition of value, and actual payment was super-added. There was another difference between the character of the county and borough franchises, as determined by the Reform Act. In the latter no claimant could be registered as a voter if he had received parochial relief within the past twelve months; in the counties, no disqualification was attached to the receipt of poor-relief. ...

From 1832 to 1868 the constituency returned two members, but the Representation of the People Act 1867 conferred a third seat from the United Kingdom general election, 1868. However the 1867 Act also introduced the limited vote restricting electors in three member constituencies to casting a maximum of two votes.

A way in which the limited vote system may fail to achieve its end of minority representation, is if the largest party is very well organised and is able to arrange the distibution of its supporters vote for maximum advantage. Charles Seymour explained the reaction of the Liberals of Birmingham after the limited vote was enacted.

The Liberals of Birmingham realized that if they were to retain the third seat, their vote must be divided economically between the three candidates. To prevent waste of votes, an organization must be built up which could control absolutely the choice of the elector; and each elector must vote invariably as he was told. The success of the Birmingham organization, which soon became known as the Caucus was unbroken and no Conservative candidate was returned. It was copied in many other constituencies and inaugurated a new era in the development of party electoral machinery, the effect of which upon the representative system has been profound.

The area was split into seven single-member constituencies in 1885; Birmingham Bordesley, Birmingham Central, Birmingham East, Birmingham Edgbaston, Birmingham North, Birmingham South and Birmingham West.

Members of Parliament

*"Constituency created (1832)"
*"Third member added (1868)

*"Constituency abolished (1885)"

Election Results

* "Note: When the exact nunber of electors voting is unknown, turnout is estimated on the basis of dividing votes cast by two. To the extent that electors did not use both their possible votes, turnout will be underestimated."

Election box begin
title=General Election 1832: Birmingham (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Thomas Attwood
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Joshua Scholefield
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 4,309 reg.
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"
* "Note (1832): Stooks Smith classifies Attwood and Scholefield as Radicals. Craig follows the modern convention, for Whig and Radical candidates from 1832, and classifies them as Liberals."

Election box begin
title=General Election 1835: Birmingham (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Thomas Attwood
votes = 1,718
percentage = 40.02
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Joshua Scholefield
votes = 1,660
percentage = 38.67
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Richard Spooner
votes = 915
percentage = 21.31
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 3,681 reg.
percentage = 70.09
change = "N/A"
* "Note (1835): 2,580 electors voted. (Source: Stooks Smith)

Election box begin
title=General Election 1837: Birmingham (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Thomas Attwood
votes = 2,145
percentage = 40.43
change = +0.41Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Joshua Scholefield
votes = 2,114
percentage = 39.85
change = +1.18Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = A.G. Stapleton
votes = 1,046
percentage = 19.72
change = -1.59Election box turnout
votes = 5,236 reg.
percentage = 59.87
change = -10.22
* "Note (1837): 3,135 electors voted. (Source: Stooks Smith)

* "Resignation of Attwood"Election box begin
title=By-Election 25 January 1840: BirminghamElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = George Frederick Muntz
votes = 1,458
percentage = 61.39
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Sir Charles Wetherell
votes = 917
percentage = 38.61
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 541
percentage = 22.78
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 4,619 reg.
percentage = 51.42
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
swing = "N/A"
* "Stooks Smith classified Muntz as a Radical. Craig classified him as a Liberal."

Election box begin
title=General Election 1841: Birmingham (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = George Frederick Muntz
votes = 1,458
percentage = 36.49
change = +36.49Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Joshua Scholefield
votes = 1,963
percentage = 32.91
change = -6.94Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Richard Spooner
votes = 1,825
percentage = 30.60
change = +10.88Election box turnout
votes = 5,870 reg.
percentage = 63.99
change = +4.12
* "Note (1841): 3,756 electors voted. (Source: Stooks Smith)

* "Death of Scholefield"Election box begin
title=By-Election 15 July 1844: BirminghamElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Richard Spooner
votes = 2,095
percentage = 50.17
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = William Scholefield
votes = 1,735
percentage = 41.55
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Joseph Sturge
votes = 346
percentage = 8.29
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 360
percentage = 8.62
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 6,129 reg.
percentage = 68.14
change = "N/A"Election box gain with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
loser = Liberal Party (UK)
swing = "N/A"
* "Stooks Smith classified Scholefield as a Whig (for this election) and Sturge as a Radical. Craig referred to them both as Liberals."

Election box begin
title=General Election 1847: Birmingham (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = George Frederick Muntz
votes = 2,830
percentage = 35.18
change = -1.31Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = William Scholefield
votes = 2,824
percentage = 35.10
change = +35.10Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Richard Spooner
votes = 2,302
percentage = 28.61
change = -1.99Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Robert Allen
votes = 89
percentage = 1.11
change = +1.11Election box turnout
votes = 7,081 reg.
percentage = 72.16
change = +8.17
* "Note (1847): 5,110 electors voted. Scholefield was classified (for this election) as a Radical, as was Allen. (Source: Stooks Smith)

Election box begin
title=General Election 1852: Birmingham (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = George Frederick Muntz
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = William Scholefield
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 7,936 reg.
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1857: Birmingham (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = George Frederick Muntz
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = William Scholefield
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 9,074 reg.
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

* "Death of Muntz."Election box begin
title=By-Election 10 August 1857: BirminghamElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Bright
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
swing = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1859: Birmingham (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = William Scholefield
votes = 4,425
percentage = 42.79
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Bright
votes = 4,282
percentage = 41.41
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Thomas Dyke Acland
votes = 1,544
percentage = 14.93
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 9,222 reg.
percentage = 56.06
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1865: Birmingham (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Bright
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = William Scholefield
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 14,997 reg.
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

* "Resignation of Attwood"Election box begin
title=By-Election 23 July 1867: BirminghamElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = George Dixon
votes = 5,819
percentage = 58.00
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Sampson Samuel Lloyd
votes = 4,214
percentage = 42.00
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 1,605
percentage = 16.00
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 14,997 reg.
percentage = 66.90
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
swing = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1868: Birmingham (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = George Dixon
votes = 15,198
percentage = 25.73
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Philip Henry Muntz
votes = 14,614
percentage = 24.74
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Bright
votes = 14,601
percentage = 24.72
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Sampson Samuel Lloyd
votes = 8,700
percentage = 12.87
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = S. Evans
votes = 7,061
percentage = 11.95
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 42,042 reg.
percentage = 70.26
change = "N/A"

* "Appointment of Bright as President of the Board of Trade"Election box begin
title=By-Election 21 December 1868: BirminghamElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Bright
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
swing = "N/A"

* "Appointment of Bright as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster"Election box begin
title=By-Election 20 October 1873: BirminghamElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Bright
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
swing = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1874: Birmingham (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Bright
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = George Dixon
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Philip Henry Muntz
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 51,361 reg.
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

* "Resignaton of Dixon"Election box begin
title=By-Election 27 June 1876: BirminghamElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Joseph Chamberlain
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
swing = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1880: Birmingham (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Philip Henry Muntz
votes = 22,969
percentage = 24.27
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Bright
votes = 22,079
percentage = 23.33
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Joseph Chamberlain
votes = 19,544
percentage = 20.65
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = F.G. Burnaby
votes = 15,735
percentage = 16.63
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Hon. A.C.G. Calthorpe
votes = 14,308
percentage = 15.12
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 63,398 reg.
percentage = 74.64
change = "N/A"

* "Appointment of Bright as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Chamberlain as President of the Board of Trade"Election box begin
title=By-Election 8 May 1880: Birmingham (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Bright
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Joseph Chamberlain
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

* "Constituency abolished 1885"

References

* "British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885", compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977)
* "Electoral Reform in England and Wales", by Charles Seymour (David & Charles Reprints 1970) "originally published in 1915, so out of copyright"
* "The Parliaments of England" by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844-50), second edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973) "originally published in 1844-50, so out of copyright"
* "Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832-1885", edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)