BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

192
If we examine other regions of low Primrose activity during
1884, political patterns begin to emerge. Using Fawcett's Provinces of
England as elaborated by Pelling to serve as a guide for the political
geography of Britain, we observe some interesting facts.
On the basis
of their dissident or Nonconformist politics, it is not surprising that
the areas in which the League organizations were least developed were
Ireland (0), Scotland (0), and Wales (4).
No effort was made to form
Habitations in Ireland and Scotland until 1885. That same year Wales
had ten counties with no Primrose representation.
In fact, most regions in England with low Habitation activity
exhibited markedly Liberal or Nonconformist beliefs.
Thus the North
province, renowned for its dissenting tradition, was retarded in League
development and indeed never obtained a sizeable representation. Its
counties, Cumberland, Northumberland, Durham, and part of Westmorland,
contained, respectively, only 0, 2, 1, and 1 associations.
The East
Midlands area, second only to the North in its Liberal, Nonconformist
voting record between 1885 and 1900,* 5
was similarly underdeveloped.
The area encompassing Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire,
Lincolnshire, and a section of Nottinghamshire, contained, respec­
tively, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1 associations.
Other areas noted for their low level of participation included
Norfolk (1) and Suffolk (0) in East Anglia and counties Shropshire (0)
and Herefordshire (0)
in the agricultural regions of the West Midlands.
127-31, 133-34, 138, 154-55, 157.
15
Ibid., pp. 227.