HC Deb 18 July 1831 vol 4 cc1396-7
Mr. Hunt

presented a Petition from 6,000 inhabitants of Huddersfield, praying that they might be Represented in Parliament, that the system of Preston, or Universal Suffrage, should be adopted, and that the suffrage should be taken by ballot. The petitioners were much pleased when the noble Lord first brought in the Bill, but finding that it did not extend to them, they; thought they should be wanting to themselves not to petition for the extension of suffrage to them.

Sir E. Sugden

called the attention of the House to this circumstance, that Ministers called their present Reform Bill a final measure, and that petitions were daily presented to the House from large masses of the people complaining that they were excluded under it from the elective franchise.

Mr. O'Connell

said, that though these petitions might be against the measure, there were twenty to one of the people throughout the country in its favour, and one hundred to one opposed to the present system.