The Best Man for the Job
The Victorian working man had John Bright’s respect and unwavering support, but he could expect no special favours.
1875
Queen Victoria 1837-1901
The Victorian working man had John Bright’s respect and unwavering support, but he could expect no special favours.
1875
Queen Victoria 1837-1901
On January 28th, 1875, John Bright MP gave a speech in Birmingham during which he regretted the pressure put on voters in manufacturing towns to elect working-class candidates. A Mr Joseph Hulme of Burslem (part of Stoke-on-Trent) wrote to express surprise at this seeming prejudice, drawing the following reply.
Rochdale, February 13, 1875.
DEAR Sir,
It seems impossible to say anything in public which will not be misunderstood and misrepresented.
I have no objection to working men as candidates. What I object to is that a candidate should be chosen only or mainly because he is a working man, and that I should be expected to vote for him for the same reason. I do not vote for a candidate because he is a middle-class man, or a man of high family connections; and I refuse to be under any obligation to vote for one who is chosen as a candidate because he belongs to some other class or section of the community.