This week is the 100th anniversary of The Representation of the People Act of 1918 – making it legal for some women to vote in national elections for the first time. There is no doubt that for every woman – and man – in
This week is the 100th anniversary of The Representation of the People Act of 1918 – making it legal for some women to vote in national elections for the first time. There is no doubt that for every woman – and man – in the UK, this is something to celebrate. But as with all great moments in history it is embedded in a complicated tissue of politics, propaganda and personal stories.
Here are five things you may not know about women and the vote:
1. The Representation of the People Act 1918 only allowed some women to vote
“The Act only enfranchised women over 30,” explains Dr Sarah Richardson, research historian at the University of Warwick. “In this way, politicians could minimise the impact women had on the system.
“British politics at the time only really featured two political parties – the Liberals who were in government and the Conservatives who were in opposition. The Labour Party was only in its infancy. The Conservatives were mostly against extending the franchise but weren’t in power. The grass roots of Liberal Party on the other hand was mostly in favour of allowing women the vote, however the cabinet, having resisted for so many years feared that most women, given the chance, would vote Conservative and they would lose power. Giving the vote only to a proportion of women meant they could minimise political damage.”
2. It was an afterthought
“Although hailed as a grand gesture, giving women the vote was only really an afterthought,” explains Dr Richardson.
“Politicians from both Parliament and the Lords met at The Speakers Conference on Electoral Refor