The BBC has made their programme in the Great Lives series on Millicent Garrett Fawcett available free on iPlayer.
Listen to it here.
Lesley Abdela talks to Matthew Parris on Fawcett’s life and achievements and the way she campaigned, rejecting militancy and building up support for a variety of causes so that it eventually became obvious that women should have the vote.
She talks about how, as a teenager, Millicent, her sister and a friend discussed how they were going to break into male dominated areas like medicine and politics.
There’s also the story of her being robbed and when the thief appeared in court, the property he stole was described as that of Fawcett’s husband.
Matthew Parris was pretty rude to Lesley Abdela, telling her that her name sounded like a council estate named by Ken Livingstone. She dealt with that by saying she’d be very pleased for that to happen.
Abdela is very critical – and deservedly so – of the Liberal Prime Ministers who refused point blank to give women the vote.
The programme was made 10 years ago and mentions the lack of a permanent memorial to the suffragist movement within the Palace of Westminster. That has changed a little since and, most recently, a temporary art installation, New Dawn, is on display, but only till 1st September.
If you are out and about leafletting today, this will inspire you as you go from door to door.
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According to the researches of a Labour MP votes for women were abolished by one line in the Reform Act 1832. The PM was the Duke of Wellington.
The Prime Minister who supported the 1832 Act was the Whig Earl Grey – a forbear of Sir Edward Grey foreign secretary in the Liberal governments of Campbell Bannerman and Asquith. The franchise was still limited on property lines which would have applied to women as well as men if it had allowed a limited form of female franchise. Wellington lost power in 1830 because he opposed extending the franchise.
‘the lack of a permanent memorial to the suffragist movement within the Palace of Westminster. That has changed a little since and, most recently, a temporary art installation, New Dawn, is on display, but only till 1st September.’
Saw it last week, when visiting Westminster for reasons unconnected with my political life.
Didn’t realise it was temporary, though.