The Berwick Advertiser’s supplement recording its 200 years of reporting has a section on the 1859 election. It comments on the “Gull-hole”, a house of a former Conservative agent, where systematic corruption of voters took place. It was reported in the newspaper that the sum of £2 was given to any who would vote for the Conservative candidates.
It was all so much easier then….
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2 comments:
£2 in 1859 was a lot of money! I wonder what the equivalent value is today? Well 2 gold sovereigns today are worth about £245. But it is not the gold that has gone up in value its the pound that has lost its value. It's a shame "clever" Gordon sold half the nation's gold reserves at rock bottom prices. That was either a $9billion mistake, or perhaps used for a lot of "£2" public sector votes?
A lot of money back then! And the party could find the money to offer these payouts? Wow.
Crystal xx
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