HONOURABLE LADIES: Profiles of Women MPs 1918-1996

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.