Formidable Women
The entry below is a synopsis of our speakers talk on 28th Feburary 2024.
An outstanding presentation was given by Ian East at the latest meeting of the Cullercoats Men’s Club.
He started asking a question, " What is the United Kingdom's shortest act of Parliament"? and the answer is it's visible Parliament qualification of Women Act 1918 with just 27 operative words in that a woman shall not be disqualified by sex or marriage from being elected or single order as a member of the Commons House of Parliament. because the Representation of the People Act of 1918 had finally given some women the right to vote those aged over 30 who had certain property qualifications so in half million women, only about 2/3 of women over 21. This unclear as to whether women could actually stand for Parliament, so they had a very easy enough additional piece of legislation which received the Royal Assent on the 21st of November 1918, just three weeks before the election and clarified the way for 70 women to become candidates.
And one of them actually won. Constance Markovich won Dublin. Saint Patrick with 63% of the wards, but as a member of Sinn Féin, she didn't take her seat. Just as the former Sinn Féin people are left and won't take their seats because they believe that British political institution should be playing our part in cooking the people of Ireland.
In fact, she would have found it a bit difficult to take a seat even if she wanted to because at the time she was in Holloway Prison for her part in anti-conscription activities. So the rules prepared for women members nicknamed the Dungeon because it was in the basement remainder occupied until the following year. In 1919 Waldorf Astor reluctantly inherited this forest seat in the House of Lords and it was agreed that his wife Nancy should be stopgap candidate at the ensuing by election. But she proved some stopgap, she won the seat with over 50% of the votes and was to remain the constituencies MP until 1945.
Ian when on to tell stories about women in different areas who had excelled even though many obsticals had been put in their way
A very good morning for all our members who thoroughly enjoyed the presentation.
Questions followed on several points to conclude the presentation.
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