Working class suffrage campaigners: 90th anniversary of the Equal Franchise Act 1928

2 JULY 2018

2nd July 2018 is the anniversary of the Equal Franchise Act 1928, which granted equal voting rights to women and men. This briefing gives biographies for six working class campaigners, all of whom feature on the plinth of Millicent Fawcett's new statue in Parliament Square. The biographies are all accompanied by photographs, except for Jessie Craigen, as there are no known photographs of her in existence.

The campaigners include:

Mrs [Lucy] Minnie Baldock (1864-1954)
Mrs Ada Neild Chew (1870-1945)
Jessie Craigen c.1835-1899
Mrs Flora Drummond (1878-1949)
Sarah Reddish (1850-1928)
Mrs Julia Scurr (1871-1927)

Download the briefing here

These biographies were written by Elizabeth Crawford, an independent researcher and author on the women’s suffrage movement. Find out more about her at https://womanandhersphere.com/

Latest

New data shows women make up just a third of local election candidates in England

Data from Fawcett and Democracy Club shows that just 34% of local election candidates, 26% of police and crime commissioner candidates and 27% of mayoral candidates are women.
Join Monthly - Individual Membership

Join monthly as an individual and fight for women's rights with Fawcett.
Join Annually - Individual Membership

Join annually as an individual and fight for women's rights with Fawcett.
Transforming Early Childhood Education and Care: Part 2

Fawcett's new report draws on expertise from around the world to create a blueprint for an ECEC system that is not only fit for purpose, but fit for the future.

New data from Fawcett shows 95% of local councils are male-dominated

New analysis published today shows that local councils across the UK remain vastly male-dominated.
End Salary History - Equal Pay Day 2021 briefing

This briefing forms part of our Equal Pay Day 2021 campaign and explores why ending salary history questions has a significant and positive effect on closing pay gaps.
Coronavirus: Impact on young people

This briefing looks at how the coronavirus outbreak impacted young people. It sets out the experiences of young people during 2021. It comprises analysis of data from a survey of 1,026 adults in the UK aged 18 to 30 conducted in early June.
Coronavirus: Impact on Young Women on Low Income

This briefing looks at how the coronavirus outbreak impacted women on lower incomes. It sets out the experiences of young people during 2021. It comprises analysis of data from a survey of 1,026 adults in the UK aged 18 to 30 conducted in early June.
One year on: Women reflect on the Government's response to Covid-19

New research shows that less than four in ten women in the UK believe the Government is focusing on issues that matter most to them in its response to the pandemic – this compares to 50% of men. The briefing is published jointly with UK Women's Budget Group, Engender and Close the Gap (Scotland), Women Equality Network Wales, and Northern Ireland Women’s Budget Group (NIWBG).
Greater Manchester Mayoral Election: Women and Girls Manifesto

Read our calls for Greater Manchester Mayoral candidates to commit to gender equality.
Disabled mothers three times more likely to have lost work during the pandemic

New research published today by leading gender equality organisations, the Fawcett Society, The UK Women’s Budget Group, Engender and Close the Gap (Scotland), Women Equality Network Wales, and Northern Ireland Women’s Budget Group (NIWBG), shows that the coronavirus pandemic is continuing to amplify disadvantages experienced by disabled parents and the Government must take decisive action to tackle this.
Pushed to More Precarity: The uneven impact of lockdowns on mothers and lower-income parents

Read the latest briefing about how the coronavirus outbreak is impacting parents.
West Midlands Mayoral Election: Women and Girls Manifesto

Read our calls for West Midlands Mayoral candidates to commit to gender equality.
Coronavirus: Impact on parents

This briefing published jointly with Women's Budget Group, Queen Mary University of London and the London School of Economics, looks at how the coronavirus outbreak is impacting parents.

Who we are

The Fawcett Society is the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights. If you believe in a society where no one is prevented from reaching their full potential because of their gender, join us today.
Work with us
Join our movement for women's rights

We campaign for gender equality. At home, at work, and in public life. Join us — become a Fawcett member today!
Our history

Millicent Fawcett began campaigning for women’s equality in 1866, and was instrumental in achieving first votes for women in 1918. At The Fawcett Society, we’ve continued her legacy of fighting sexism through impactful research and hard-hitting campaigns for over 155 years.
Close the gender pay gap

Did you know it will take 100 years to close the gender pay gap at current rates? We cannot afford to keep going backwards.
Fawcett research shows exposure to gender stereotypes as a child causes harm in later life

7 MARCH 2019: New polling today shows ‘significant and wide-ranging consequences for both women and men’.
Equal Pay

The Equal Pay Act in the UK is not fit for purpose. We're calling to end pay secrecy with a legal 'Right to Know'. The time for change is now.
Find a local group

We’re delighted to have a growing number of active and effective local women’s rights meet ups, who work in the local community to enforce change and campaign on our behalf. Their work is invaluable to Fawcett.
Sex Discrimination Law Review

How do we make equality law in the UK fit for the 21st century? Create a fairer and more equal society by supporting our Law Review.
Equality – it’s about time: Timeline of women’s rights 1866-2016

29 JANUARY 2016