The struggle for women’s right to vote in the United Kingdom had a long and storied history. At issue was the threat posed by women’s suffrage to the stability of the prevailing social and political order. The portraits below represent historical figures who opposed the legal enfranchisement of women, including monarchs, politicians, their families.
More information about these individuals can be found via links provided following the gallery of images below.
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The portraits above represent the formidable adversaries to women’s suffrage, starting with the British monarchy, followed by members of the ruling Liberal Party, who were the principal subjects of the WSPU’s appeals.
Queen Victoria (1819-1901), who reigned from1807 to 1901, was known to be averse to women’s suffrage, privately calling it “mad, wicked folly.” During the reign of her son, King Edward VII (1841 – 1910) from 1901-1910, the government actively worked to suppress suffrage. Limited suffrage for women was only legislated in 1918, after her grandson King George V (1865 – 1936) was on the throne for eighteen years. When the Representation of the People Act finally passed, it was only granted to women over the age of thirty who were either members of the Local Government Register, or married to a member, property owners, or graduates voting in a University constituency.
The portraits of key politicians and their wives that follow represent members of the Liberal Party during a period of New Liberalism (1905-1915). Although New Liberalism laid the foundation for the modern welfare state and women’s suffrage was discussed with promises made, legislation was slow to be introduced.
In order of succession, the portraits depict: Prime Minister Henry Campbell Bannerman (1905-1908) who was married and without children. He supported suffrage in principle but did not deliver any legislation. Prime Minister, Herbert Henry Asquith (1852 – 1928) married with seven children and his second wife, Countess Margot Asquith (1864 – 1945) (two children with Asquith) opposed women’s suffrage although, Beatrice Venetia Stanley (1887 – 1948) his confidante and mistress did. Following are David Lloyd George (1863 – 1945) cabinet minister and ring leader of the party progressives, married with five children, and his first wife Dame Margaret Lloyd George (1864 – 1941), as well as Lady Frances Lloyd-George (1888 – 1972) who was his secretary and mistress for many years, and after Margaret died, became his second wife. Until the war, David and Margaret opposed women’s suffrage. After the war they supported it. Frances is on record as being a suffragist, but opposed the militant approach of the WSPU. Herbert John Gladstone (1854 – 1930) Home Secretary (1905-1910), married and without children, supported the idea of suffrage for women in principle, but became a controversial figure for his decision to force-feed imprisoned suffragettes.
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874 – 1965) Home Secretary (1910-1911) was initially opposed to women’s suffrage, evolving over time to allow limited suffrage for women. During his time as Home Secretary, Churchill became a target of the suffragettes actions because of his equivocating stance. His mother, Lady Randolph Churchill(1854 – 1921) played a crucial role in advancing her son’s early political career. She believed that women had a role to play politically, but was adamant that she could best serve her cause quietly, in support her husband. Although Lady Clementine Ogilvy Spencer-Churchill (1885 – 1977) spouse of Winston Churchill, (they had five children) supported suffrage for women, she, like her husband advocated against the militancy of the WSPU.
Reginald McKenna (1863 – 1943) Home Secretary (1911-1915) married with two children, continued Gladstone’s policy of force-feeding imprisoned suffragettes and introduced the Cat and Mouse Act, releasing hunger-striking suffragettes from prison to regain their health, only to be re-arrested once they resumed their political activism.