 The Reform Act 's chief objective was the reduction of the number of nomination boroughs . There were 203 boroughs in England before the Act . The 56 smallest of these , as measured by their housing stock and tax assessments , were completely abolished . The next 30 smallest boroughs each lost one of their two MPs . In addition Weymouth and Melcombe Regis 's four members were reduced to two . Thus in total the Act abolished 143 borough seats in England ( one of the boroughs to be completely abolished , Higham Ferrers , had only a single representative ) . 
