On this day in history, the ‘Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918’ was passed in the UK parliament. The Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918 allowed women over the age of 21 to stand in elections in the UK to become a member of parliament (MP).
Beforehand, women weren’t allowed to stand to be members of parliament, and therefore, were not allowed to be political representatives. However, that changed thanks to the ‘Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918. The act meant that women could stand in general elections to campaign to become members of parliament. The Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918 was very specific and to the point. It is the shortest political act in the history of the UK, as it is only a few sentences long. But even though it is short, this political act is significant in women’s history, as it allowed women to become political representatives just like men.
The act itself says:
‘’An act to amend the Law with respect to the Capacity of Women to sit in parliament. Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lord’s Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in the present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows :-----
This act came into effect on the 21st of November 1918, just several months after some women won the right to vote in the UK during the same year. On the 6th of February 1918, the ‘Representation of the People Act 1918’ was passed as law. The Representation of the People Act 1918 allowed women allowed women over the age of 30, who had property could now vote in general elections in the UK. The Representation of the People Act 1918 also allowed all men over the age of 21 to vote, whether they had property or not. Therefore, this act resulted in enfranchising most men within the United Kingdom and some women. With most men being allowed to participate in politics, and some women being allowed, it resulted in the foundations of our democracy being built here in the UK. Source: https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/womenvote/parliamentary-collections/nancy-astor/parliament-qualification-of-women-act/ https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/womenvote/case-study-the-right-to-vote/the-right-to-vote/birmingham-and-the-equal-franchise/1918-representation-of-the-people-act/
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