The National Reform Union (or NRU) was formed in 1864 and was composed mainly of

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

party members. At the start of 1867 the Reform Union had 150 branches compared to the

Reform League The Reform League was established in 1865 to press for manhood suffrage and the ballot in Great Britain. It collaborated with the more moderate and middle class Reform Union and gave strong support to the abortive Reform Bill 1866 and the successf ...

's 400. The Reform Union was more intellectual than the similarly motived

but was less influential. It enjoyed the support of the prosperous middle class whereas the

enjoyed the support of

trade unionists A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

, ex-

Chartists Chartism was a working-class movement for political reform in the United Kingdom that erupted from 1838 to 1857 and was strongest in 1839, 1842 and 1848. It took its name from the People's Charter of 1838 and was a national protest movement, w ...

and the

working class The working class (or labouring class) comprises those engaged in manual-labour occupations or industrial work, who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts. Working-class occupations (see also " Designation of workers by collar colo ...

and were perceived as a threat by the establishment due to the agitation it could create.

References

* ''Respectable Radical.'' by F.M. Leventhal. Published London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson 1971 {{Authority control Political movements Radical parties Political parties established in 1864 19th century in the United Kingdom