About Us
The History of Cobbett's Political Register
The Weekly Political Register was originally launched in 1802 by William Cobbett and became a significant platform for radical reform in British politics. Despite its conservative beginnings, the publication evolved into a powerful tool for challenging corruption, social inequality, and aristocratic privilege. The Political Register’s foundational missions included supporting causes such as parliamentary reform, freedom of the press and the rights of the working class.
The Political Register draws on being a voice for the working class, opposing the privileges of the wealthy, and championing the causes of the less fortunate as the foundational missions. The Register’s mere existence was a struggle in 1816, with new newspaper taxation, that aimed to curb radical publications. Cobbett found a way around this, printing a pamphlet priced at just two pence. At the time this was key in expanding the publication's circulation.
The Political Register’s contribution to the Reform Act of 1832 and the removal of rotten boroughs, marked the start of democratisation and political reform in Britain for over a century after and Cobbett himself faced multiple prosecutions for libel and even imprisonment due to his criticisms of government, but he continued publishing until he died in 1835. Whilst he became a champion for the working class, his legacy is tarnished by his deplorable racist and antisemitic views. Cobbett frequently published bigoted and inflammatory commentary against Jewish people and minorities, views which should have been and are now recognised for the damage they caused. His writings often perpetuated stereotypes, showing that while he critiqued aristocratic privilege, his sympathy did not extend beyond the white working class. These views must serve as a reminder of the importance in the modern day of challenging all forms of oppression and prejudice, especially as minority working classes not only face many of the same issues and inequalities as all working-class people but face significant additional challenges.
The Political Register Today
Today, The Political Register that we envision takes a markedly different stance, a reimagining of William Cobbett’s 19th Century publication, inheriting a mission to expose the injustices of our time, from government corruption to the struggles of the working class, but doing so with an inclusive lens, seeking to spotlight intersectional inequalities, especially those faced by minorities and provide a forum for policy discussion and ideas. The Political Register is not merely a call for social justice but a platform that holds no tolerance for discrimination.
We stand committed to an opposition of wealth-driven privilege with a broad mission that champions the rights of every individual in our society. We plan to cut through the noise of mafia-style media corporations, delivering fact and experience-based analysis that can empower public opinion and spotlight the policy issues that need to be addressed by those at all levels of government. We work with all to find policy solutions to the problems that affect those who are not part of the rich elite in Britain and around the world.
We have a sharp focus on economic inequality, corporate influence in politics, climate change, civil liberties, British politics, local and national, and the experiences of working people. In an era of disinformation, the Political Register aims to connect the concerns of those marginalised with meaningful policy debates, combining fresh perspectives with professional and experienced analysis. The Political Register is a platform for voices too often ignored by the mainstream media, giving people a tool to reclaim their political voice in a meaningful way that affects change.