![When voting was a privilege held by the few](https://cdn.magzter.com/1583591992/1719898733/articles/kqWC5jvMs1719902924039/WHEN-VOTING-WAS-A-PRIVILEGE-HELD-BY-THE-FEW.jpg)
In Plymouth, at the beginning of the 19th century, there were little more than two or three hundred ‘freemen’ who were empowered to vote.
The passing of the 1832 Act meant that virtually any man occupying a house worth £10 a year rent, whether freehold or leasehold, had the vote. There were great celebrations, however it still only meant that Plymouth had less than 1,500 voters out of a population of some 30,000 (one in 20). Furthermore, it was to be another 34 years before voters could vote privately, by secret ballot, and in the meantime voting went on as it had long done, at public meetings like these, conducted outside the Theatre Royal.
Plymouth had been sending representatives to Parliament since at least 1298, but for over 500 years here, as elsewhere in the country, the right of election was in the hands of a very few men. Sometimes the matter was determined by the mayor and corporation on their own, sometimes by the freemen, either with or without the corporate body. There were four kinds of freemen; honorary, hereditary, apprenticed and purchased.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 02, 2024 من The Herald.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 02, 2024 من The Herald.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
![ROONEY FACTOR!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21126/1754688/y0g3fOl_-1720075566926/ROONEY-FACTOR.jpg)
ROONEY FACTOR!
TIJANI SWAYED BY CHANCE TO WORK WITH PILGRIMS BOSS
![Plymouth Divers return from Sandwell with a medal haul](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21126/1754688/5Xi-udykk1720075471584/PLYMOUTH-DIVERS-RETURN-FROM-SANDWELL-WITH-A-MEDAL-HAUL.jpg)
Plymouth Divers return from Sandwell with a medal haul
PLYMOUTH Diving sent a worthy team of 15 talented participants to Sandwell Aquatics Centre for the Swim England Diving National Age Group Championships, where around 170 athletes from across 20 teams were in competition.
![Full-strength Gladiators show just what they are capable of](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21126/1754688/9XGppiZUC1720075398993/FULLSTRENGTH-GLADIATORS-SHOW-JUST-WHAT-THEY-ARE-CAPABLE-OF.jpg)
Full-strength Gladiators show just what they are capable of
WITH a full septet available for the first time this season – and for quite some time – the Plymouth ProwPark Gladiators showed just what they are capable of with a superb 54-34 win over the Edinburgh Monarchs in the Cab Direct Championship.
![Green Army welcome Dyabi's loan return to Home Park](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21126/1754688/UgfCShCdS1720075319794/GREEN-ARMY-WELCOME-DYABIS-LOAN-RETURN-TO-HOME-PARK.jpg)
Green Army welcome Dyabi's loan return to Home Park
THE return to Plymouth Argyle of midfielder Darko Gyabi for a second loan spell from Leeds United has largely been welcomed by the Green Army.
![The fast starts and misfiring superstars](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21126/1754688/9w9bjzPx61720075163243/THE-FAST-STARTS-AND-MISFIRING-SUPERSTARS.jpg)
The fast starts and misfiring superstars
THE NUMBERS BEHIND EURO 2024 SO FAR
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Draper's ready for battle of the Brits
JACK Draper has built up today’s Wimbledon battle of Britain with Cameron Norrie by insisting: “He won’t like the fact that I’m number one!”
![Sunny day for Sonay as she storms through](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21126/1754688/4pS_9JgCx1720074987117/SUNNY-DAY-FOR-SONAY-AS-SHE-STORMS-THROUGH.jpg)
Sunny day for Sonay as she storms through
SONAY Kartal weathered a second-set wobble to storm into the Wimbledon third round for the first time and set up a plum tie with Coco Gauff after she beat Clara Burel 6-3 5-7 6-3.
![Poll: Labour set to better 1997 win](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21126/1754688/7rGOqdyvT1720074896487/POLL-LABOUR-SET-TO-BETTER-1997-WIN.jpg)
Poll: Labour set to better 1997 win
ANOTHER pollster has forecasted the Tories' worst ever loss in Thursday's vote, with Labour set to outperform its 1997 landslide victory in this year's General Election.
![Sir Ed vows to 'knock down the Blue Wall'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21126/1754688/93ScvHmZk1720074826975/SIR-ED-VOWS-TO-KNOCK-DOWN-THE-BLUE-WALL.jpg)
Sir Ed vows to 'knock down the Blue Wall'
LIBERAL Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey vowed to knock down the Conservatives' 'Blue Wall' as he embarked on his latest General Election campaign stunt driving a large yellow tractor.
![Sunak 'still fighting hard'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21126/1754688/_UrLeaUTJ1720074755329/SUNAK-STILL-FIGHTING-HARD.jpg)
Sunak 'still fighting hard'
RISHI Sunak insisted he was still 'fighting hard' for votes after one of his most loyal Cabinet allies said Labour is likely to win 'the largest majority any party has ever achieved.