“Voting rights were granted as a result of public pressure 1867-1885”- assess the validity

Whilst voting rights were granted in the context of considerable public pressure, the principal reason the franchise was extended 1867-1885 was due to a trend of changing attitudes, both within party and in society. Whereas political expediency influenced the shaping of the 1867 bill in particular, and key lobbied for the actual passage of acts is a direct consequence of changing attitudes due to wider societal trends such as urbanisation. Without both parties changing their attitudes towards reform, both major franchise extensions would’ve been incomprehensible, as bills had to pass both the lords and the commons.