Next week will mark the centenary of the passing of legislation which gave women the right to vote in this country for the first time.
Following its passage through the Commons and Lords; on 6th February 1918 the Representation of the People Act received Royal Assent from King George V, grandfather of our present monarch.
This legislation was deemed necessary during the First World War as millions of returning soldiers were not entitled to vote as a result of property and residential qualifications. The vital role of women during the war, which I highlighted in the House of Commons earlier this month, also changed minds of those who had previously opposed allowing women to be part of the democratic process.
The Act widened suffrage by abolishing almost all property qualifications for men and by enfranchising women over the age of 30 who met minimum property qualifications.
These changes saw the size of the electorate triple from 7.7 million to 21.4 million and women accounted for around 43 per cent of the new electorate. Full parity, however, was not achieved until further legislation in 1928.
As a constant reminder of the hard-fought right for women’s suffrage, a Women’s Social & Political Union (WSPU) flag is displayed proudly next to Central Lobby in the Palace of Westminster alongside a wider display on how women won the right to vote.
Last year I addressed the Rivers Learning Project Community to mark UK Parliament Week. The group undertake important projects empowering disadvantaged women in Crawley, and I talked about my work locally and in the House of Commons for our town and the importance of participation in the democratic process.
The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has led the way in my own party in ensuring more women run for political office and are elected to serve in the House of Commons; of course building on the legacy of Margaret Thatcher, the first British female premier.
I hope that in the very near future, our daughters and sons will see more leaders in Parliament and Downing Street that further reflect the make-up of our country; viewing this as a regular occurrence – not something which seems like an exception.
Henry Smith MP