As I was walking in London ...

Sad that Cartwright did not live to see the beginnings of universal suffrage.

The Great Reform Act of 1832 was one of the Reform Movement's first successes. It gave the right to vote to middle class men. Before this, only aristocrats and wealthy landowners were able to vote. A second Reform Act in 1867 extended the vote further, but still excluded working class men and all women. Women over thirty with property were enfranchised in 1918 (Representation of the People Act); women over 21 did not get the vote until 1928.

I heard a jubilant UKIP supported talking about the power of 2000 years of British democracy after the recent by-election. Curious view of history!

I think teaching civics at secondary school and compulsory voting from the age of 16 with an option to abstain, as a civic duty, is long overdue.