"An examination of the 1932 Great Reform Act shows that it was the views of Russell that prevailed not those of Wellington or Hume"

        The Duke of Wellington was leader of the Tory opposition and rejected the idea of Reform completely, this made him very unpopular and in 1832 Thomas Attwood and other leading figures led a national uprising to prevent his return. So Wellington’s views were against reform so the fact that the Reform Act came into place in 1832 shows that his views didn’t prevail. In fact he was so against the Reform Act it led to the Tory party splitting. However he did advise the King to recall Whig Leader Charles Earl Grey who eventually passed the Bill so Wellington did have a minor significance in the Great Reform Act despite him being against it. If Wellington had had his way then the Great Reform Act wouldn’t of been introduced, as the British Prime Minister Wellington banished any hope of this new Bill but eventually he had to give way to other people’s views, such as John Russell’s.

        Joseph Hume was a Radical MP and helped influence their ideas. Despite not being seen as influential as Jeremy Bentham he still showed what Radical ideas were all about. These Radical ideas spread to the Reform Act, which include the widening of the vote. However the Great Reform Act didn’t have many Radical ideas as it left out a secret ballot, universal suffrage, MPs being paid, 50 pocket boroughs remained and there were still qualification barriers to prevent people from voting. All of these were Radicals like Hume’s objectives, as they wanted to bring about a fairer Britain. Hume shared views with leading enlightenment thinkers such as the Great Thomas Paine. As Paine led way to 2 Revolutions perhaps Hume was considering planning an uprising but as he didn’t his views didn’t prevail. The Great Reform Act was not a sign of democracy, which Radicals such as Joseph Hume wanted so he had only a little impact as many of the Radical ideas weren’t considered and Hume did play second fiddle to Bentham. Liberty, equality and fraternity, the Radical motto were not part of the 1832 Great Reform Act.

        So in conclusion it would appear that Lord John Russell’s views did prevail as the Great Reform Act was passed eventually in 1832 despite Wellington’s efforts to stop it. Also the Radical Joseph Hume would have been disappointed with the Bill, as it didn’t include many Radical ideas showing that Lord John Russell was the most influential in the Great Reform Act.