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TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > History > Compare the attitude of the Liberal and Tory Parties to parliamentary reform before 1867

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The Liberals at this time were moving away from their traditional Whig policies. The Liberals believed that the skilled workers were a “respectable elite”. They thought it was fair to give the vote to the “skilled workers” who in their opinion had themselves gained the franchise. The believed that because the “skilled working class” saved their money, valued education and read the popular penny press they had earned the franchise. Although the Liberals were willing to extend the franchise to the skilled working class they did not adhere to giving the ordering” working class they vote. They held a harsh and unjust stereotypical view of the ordinary working class they believed them to be little better than criminals. The conservatives on the other hand believed it would be beneficial to their party if the working class were extended into the franchise they believed that the ordinary working class were potential conservatives voters and unlike the Liberals they did not want the franchise just to be given to the “skilled workers” they wanted the working class in its entirety to be included into the franchise. The Conservatives and the Liberals did agree on one subject this was the opposition of Adult male suffrage.

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