Costumes you could vote in, 1906-1918

2018 marks the centenary of most UK women winning the right to vote. The Representation of the People Act 1918 gave women over the age of 30 who owned their home or lived with someone who owned their own home, or who paid rent of £5 or more per year the right to vote. The Act became law on 6th February 1918. Modern society owes an almost infinite debt to the women who lobbied, intellectually wrestled to right a wrong, and in some cases physically fought and died to carry their cause. It is worthy to note that as fiercely as they fought, when war broke out they side-lined their grievance and stood shoulder to shoulder for national wellbeing in a time of war. Indeed the roles that women took on while the men were away were vital to the war effort. It was, however, another 10 years before the right to vote was granted to all women over the age of 21. We remember in this page that only 9 months separated the granting of the right for some women to vote from the armistice and the end of the First World War. It had been an era marked by struggle and sacrifice. We remember them and their effort with respect.