HONOURABLE LADIES: Profiles of Women MPs 1918-1996

Book number: 92881 Product format: Hardback Author: IAIN DALE AND JACQUI SMITH

In stock

Bibliophile price £8.50
Published price £30


It is incredible to think that in a century since women were first allowed to stand for Parliament, only 491 have been elected. The first woman elected to Parliament was Constance Markievicz who was a Sinn Féin candidate for Dublin St Patrick's. At the time of the election, she was in Holloway Prison and refused to take up her seat in the Commons. This was a mere three weeks after the passing of the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918 on 21st November 1918. 17 women stood in that 1918 election including suffragette Christabel Pankhurst who polled over 8,000 votes. The first woman MP to actually take up her seat was Nancy Astor in December 1919 and she effectively inherited her seat when her husband had to give it up to succeed his father's peerage. In 1921, Liberal Margaret Wintringham became the second sitting female MP when she was elected in a by-election in Louth. Containing profiles of every woman MP from 1918 to 1996, and with all female contributions from Mary Beard to Caroline Lucas, Ruth Davidson to Yvette Cooper, and Margaret Beckett to Ann Widdecombe, this remarkable tome is an illuminating testament to the stories and achievements of these remarkable women. In 1945, Labour welcomed a new generation of women MPs with 21 elected, and in 1948, Florence Paton became the first woman nominated to the Chairman's Panel and thus able to preside over committees. It was not until 1970 that Betty Harvie Anderson became Deputy Speaker, and a woman presided over the Chamber. In 1992, the redoubtable Betty Boothroyd became the first female Speaker of the House of Commons. Harriet Slater was the first female Whip in 1964, Ann Taylor Chief Whip in 1999, and Margaret Thatcher became the UK's first female Prime Minister in 1979. While you will learn about many strong and influential women in this volume, you will also discover that their contributions have often gone unreported, or that credit for their efforts has gone to the men they worked with. From the start they have argued for equal rights and pay, childcare and protection from male violence, whichever party they belonged to, and these MPs have been crucial in representing the voices and interests of all women. Their story deserves to be told. A magnificent volume of 641pp, index.

Additional product information

ISBN 9781785902444

Customers who bought this product also bought

QUEENS OF JERUSALEM: The Women Who Dared to Rule
Book number: 92734 Product format: Hardback Author: KATHERINE PANGONIS
Bibliophile price £6.50
Published price £20
UNPLUG GLASS MAGNET SET OF 6
Book number: 95308 Product format: Unknown Author: INSIGHT EDITIONS
Bibliophile price £6.00
Published price £18
LOVE LETTERS FROM PARIS
Book number: 92457 Product format: Paperback Author: NICOLAS BARREAU
Bibliophile price £4.50
Published price £8.99
TRAVELLER'S HISTORY OF TURKEY
Book number: 93869 Product format: Paperback Author: RICHARD STONEMAN
Bibliophile price £3.50
Published price £9.99
NEW POPULISM: Democracy Stares Into the Abyss
Book number: 93583 Product format: Paperback Author: MARCO REVELLI
Bibliophile price £5.00
Published price £16.99
HOW TO BEHAVE BADLY IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND
Book number: 93022 Product format: Hardback Author: RUTH GOODMAN
Bibliophile price £9.00
Published price $28.95

Browse these categories as well: Last Chance to buy!, Modern History/Current Affairs, Biography/Autobiography