Friendship, Trust, and Political Influence in Poor Working-Class Britain

This paper looks at the political importance of friendships between religious and charitable visitors to poor working-class homes, and those they befriended there, in late 19^th and early 20^th century urban Britain. It argues that these relationships, in combination with a limited engagement by poorer working-class voters with Liberal and Conservative politicians and policies, and also a lack of intimate neighbourhood ties, may have significantly affected political behaviour and outcomes.