Fighting For Equality

A century after the Representation of the People Act was passed, author TRACEY GLASSPOOL reveals how the campaign for women’s suffrage had been bitterly contested in Devon

- Tracey Glasspool

ON 6 February 1918, suffrage supporters celebrated partial success in the long battle for votes for women. The Representation of the People Act enfranchised women over 30 who met certain qualifications, following decades of peaceful marches, militant protests, arrests, violence and death.

The suffrage campaign had touched every corner of the country and was divided into two camps: Millicent Fawcett’s Suffragists of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) and the militant Suffragettes of Emmeline Pankhurst’s Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). Active branches of both groups formed throughout Devon.

In January 1908, a by-election was held in the Mid-Devon constituency which included the towns of Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey, Teignmouth, and Dawlish. The seat was considered a safe Liberal stronghold but, to the shock of all, the Liberal candidate, Mr Buxton, was defeated by 559 votes.

Some blamed the suffragettes. After the consistent failure of the Liberal government to introduce the franchise for women, the WSPU robustly opposed all Liberal candidates.