The failed parliamentary attempts to achieve female suffrage, 1909-1913

Question 1

In 1909 the Liberal Party proposed the Women’s Suffrage Bill, what did the consist of?

Answer 1

• Bill was to include male suffrage and give some women the vote
• Proposed the Bill in 1907 and 1909, both times the Bill passed the second reading but failed to get any further

Question 2

Why did the Women’s Suffrage Bill of 1909 fail?

Answer 2

• Was not given enough debate time - partly because other considerations took precedent (whether or not to increase taxes for wealthy people)
• Parties focused on their campaigns due to election of 1910

Question 3

What was the Conciliation Committee of 1910?

Answer 3

• NUWSS and WSPU joined forces to form a cross party committee, aiming to achieve limited suffrage for 1 million women
• Petition drafted containing 250,000 names

Question 4

Why did the Conciliation Committee of 1910 prove to be ineffective?

Answer 4

• Despite the Liberal Party having support for the suffragette movement, Asquith opposed the bill
• Asquith declared that there was not enough time to continue debating - taking too much precedent

Question 5

What did the Conciliation of Bill of 1911 propose?

Answer 5

• Similar to that of 1909, yet it was a private members bill
• Promised a week of parliamentary discussion by Asquith and passed its reading

Question 6

Why did the Conciliation Bill of 1911 fail?

Answer 6

• For many liberals, the promise of male suffrage removed the need to support the conciliation bill
• WSPU returned to militant tactics with increased violence - leading to the bill being abandoned

Question 7

Why did the issue of Irish Home Rule lead to the lack of support for the Conciliation Bill of 1912?

Answer 7

• The issue of Irish Home Rule became more serious, Irish parliamentary party voted against female suffrage - fear that time debating this bill would be used to avoid debating Irish home rule

Question 8

Why did increased WSPU militancy lead to alienated support?

Answer 8

• More aggression and violence deterred the government - seen as terrorism and supported the fact that they were not ready for the vote
• 26 MPs who had promised to support the bill, voted against in 1912

Question 9

What pushed away more moderate supporters?

Answer 9

• Arson attacks in 1913 (burning of timber yard in Bristol and University)