Weekly News #19

Vote 100: Theresa May hails suffragettes 'heroism' amid calls for pardons as UK marks centenary since women given vote

Today, Theresa May has hailed the "heroism" of the suffragettes as her Government faced calls to pardon women who were treated as criminals for fighting for the right to vote 100 years ago.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson are among those leading calls for pardons.

It comes on the centenary of the passing of the Representation of the People Act, which granted the vote to many women aged over 30 who met certain property qualifications.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has announced a £500,000 fund to drive greater representation of women in Scottish politics in "tribute" to the suffragettes.

An image of the original 'Representation of the people Act 1918'

                 Events have been held across the country to mark the centenary.

This evening, the Prime Minister addressed a reception in Parliament to launch a year-long Vote 100 programme of events to celebrate a century of female suffrage.

All female MPs past and present were invited, in what is expected to be the largest gathering of the UK's women politicians ever organised.

In her speech, Mrs May praised the "heroic, tireless struggle" of the suffragettes, adding that the right to vote "was not handed over willingly".