The Poor Law

Abstract

The Poor Law, contrary to a commonly held view, was both intrinsically political in itself and an important element in the urban political structure. Poor Law administration has normally been the province of social historians whose main interests tend to be methods of relief and social attitudes and who therefore ignore any political aspects. Much has recently been written on the nineteenth-century Poor Law but little light has been cast upon Poor Law politics. Similarly, recent interest in urban politics has steered clear of the Poor Law because of concentration upon elections, and so the Poor Law has been relegated to a sort of sub-political region. However, a great deal of local power was exercised within the Poor Law and the mode, aims and consequences of such execution of power was often controversial. The Poor Law provided a vehicle for local party combat and a contentious area of policy where rival interests and aspirations could conflict. Even the limited horizons of social administration were often politically determined, and this chapter will seek to reveal the ways in which the Poor Law was politicized.

‘Political party feeling prevails to a mischievous extent at Leeds, the parties are nearly balanced and it is scarcely possible to take any step in Leeds Township without exciting strong party feeling.’ Charles Mott, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, 24 August 1841