The Oldham Liberal Democrats are calling on Oldham Council (13 September) to celebrate the centenary of ‘Votes for Women’ by nominating two Oldham women who played leading roles for national recognition as pioneers in the struggle for suffrage.

On International Women’s Day (8 March 2017), the Women’s Local Government Society, a voluntary, cross-party organisation which works for more women to enter local government, launched its Suffrage to Citizenship Project. The intention of the campaign is to mark and celebrate the extraordinary contribution made by one hundred previously unsung heroines for suffrage in order to encourage future women to follow their path.

Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillor Julia Turner is proposing a motion to the next full meeting of Oldham Council (13 September):

“Many women across Britain fought hard over many decades to secure the right to vote, first in municipal and school board elections, and later in Parliamentary elections. Amongst the women of Oldham, who were involved in this campaign, two particularly stand out as pioneers for suffrage – Lydia Becker and Annie Kenney – so we feel that Oldham has a lot to shout about.”

“I am pleased that fund-raising work is proceeding for a statue to recognise the contribution of Annie Kenney, but her forebear Lydia Becker also deserves national recognition. Lydia, a resident of Foxdenton Hall, led the campaign that persuaded the House of Keys, the Parliament of the Isle of Man, to grant the right to women to vote in Parliamentary elections there in 1882. This was the first part of the United Kingdom to do so; a full 37 years before this same right was granted to women in mainland Britain. All thanks to another courageous and principled Oldham woman.”

In 2018, one hundred years after the passage of the Representation of the People Act, events of commemoration and celebration will be hosted across the country to mark the contribution of these women in the hope that they will inspire other women to take up elected office.

Councillor Turner said: “Lord Gary Porter, Chair of the Local Government Association, has asked all Councils to appoint a champion to take this project forward locally. I hope that Councillors will support my call that Oldham Council does so.”

Notice of Opposition Business – Suffrage to Citizenship Project

Council notes:

• the launch on International Women’s Day (8 March 2017) of the Suffrage to Citizenship Project by the Women’s Local Government Society, a voluntary, cross-party organisation seeking to recruit more women into local government.

The Project intends to celebrate 100 years of women’s suffrage by commemorating suffrage pioneers to inspire a new generation of activists.

The Project will identify and celebrate the lives of 100 previously hidden women and supportive men who worked tirelessly in suffrage campaigns leading up to the Representation of the People Act 1918, and who used the extended rights to citizenship in a positive way by serving as elected councillors, magistrates, on school and public health boards, or by otherwise taking a lead in their local community.

• with pride that at least two Oldham women – Annie Kenney and Lydia Becker – played leading roles in the struggle for women’s suffrage and therefore recognises the importance of this Council supporting this Project.

• that the Chair of the Local Government Association, Lord Gary Porter, has asked all Leaders and Chief Executives in local authorities to identify an elected member champion to lead on this work.

Council resolves to:

• Appoint an elected member champion as per Lord Porter’s request.
• Ask that champion to bring a report back to a future meeting of Council in 2017 identifying how this local authority can best support the aims of this Project.