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On the 100th anniversary of the right of women to stand for parliament, Bath’s first woman MP, Wera Hobhouse will speak on the journey towards equality of representation and the challenges ahead.
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2018 marks 100 years since The Representation of the People Act 1918 extended the right to vote to all men over 21 and the first women, making this one of the most important centenaries in British democratic history. Ten years later, The Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928 gave all men and women over 21 the right to vote. These acts followed years of campaigning, with the first petition to Parliament asking for votes for women being presented to the House of Commons on 3 August 1832.
Finally in 1918, Parliament passed an act granting the vote to women over the age of 30 who were householders, the wives of householders, occupiers of property with an annual rent of £5, and graduates of British universities. About 8.4 million women gained the vote. On 21 November 1918, the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918 was passed, allowing women to be elected into the House of Commons. At 27 words it is the shortest UK statute.
Today’s prominent lecture will take place 100 years and 2 days since that important date.
Tickets £7 online or on the door. This high-profile event is likely to sell out so we recommend buying your ticket in advance.
There is a 50% discount offered to holders of a valid B&NES Discovery Card.
