The Struggle for the Great Reform Act
On 7 June 1832, the first Representation of the People Act passed, laying the foundations for the growth of representative democracy in Britain – it was a partial victory won by centuries of agitation.
7 Articles by:
Tom Banbury
Tom Banbury is a writer and researcher based in Warwickshire. He works on histories of politics, medicine, and the environment.
When Sunday Schools Taught Socialism
The end of the nineteenth century saw the birth of an important but little-known movement in British working-class history: Sunday schools dedicated to teaching the values of socialism.
Why the Putney Debates Still Matter
On this day in 1647, the New Model Army gathered in Putney to demand a constitution which enshrined government by consent – centuries later, we can still learn from their radical democratic vision.
The Struggle for the Great Reform Act
On 7 June 1832, the first Representation of the People Act passed, laying the foundations for the growth of representative democracy in Britain – it was a partial victory won by centuries of agitation.
How Workers’ Struggles Won our Rights
Since the 1800s, the upward march of the organised labour movement has transformed the world of work – reducing hours, improving conditions and winning new rights for millions of working people.
Britain’s Long Fight Over the Right to Protest
The Police Crackdown Bill is a threat to our right to protest, but that right has been contested for centuries – and from Peterloo to Cable Street, it has often been defended by breaking the law.
The Ancient Roots of Trespass
The Tory government’s plan to make trespass a criminal offence is part of a centuries-old tradition: using the law to protect wealthy landowners at the expense of our right to roam.