Irish (UK) general election, 1859
Encyclopedia
The 1859 British general election in Ireland produced one of the last overall victories for the Tories
in Ireland. Their win, however, did not mean that Ireland
was supporting the Tories, though the party did have some strong pockets of support on the island. The win was a result of a restricted electoral franchise
which saw voting restricted to the middle and upper classes, who were disproportionately supportive of the Tory Party in Ireland.
Electoral reform in subsequent decades saw a sharp decline in Tory fortunes in Ireland, with new voters, who had not been Tory supporters anyhow, supporting first of all the Liberal Party
, notably in the 1868 general election in Ireland and later the Irish Parliamentary Party
from the 1874 general election in Ireland
onwards.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
in Ireland. Their win, however, did not mean that Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
was supporting the Tories, though the party did have some strong pockets of support on the island. The win was a result of a restricted electoral franchise
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
which saw voting restricted to the middle and upper classes, who were disproportionately supportive of the Tory Party in Ireland.
Electoral reform in subsequent decades saw a sharp decline in Tory fortunes in Ireland, with new voters, who had not been Tory supporters anyhow, supporting first of all the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
, notably in the 1868 general election in Ireland and later the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
from the 1874 general election in Ireland
Irish (UK) general election, 1874
The 1874 British general election in Ireland produced the first major electoral appearance of the Home Rule League under chairman Isaac Butt. The party's electoral success, in which it won 60 MPs, taking control of Irish electoral politics from the previously dominant Conservative and the Liberal...
onwards.