EVESHAM’s MP Nigel Huddleston joined together with Oxfordshire MP Victoria Prentis and hosted an EqualiTeas event to celebrate the centenary of some women getting the vote in the UK.
2018 marks 100 years since an important milestone in British democratic history – the passage of the Representation of the People Act (1918) which extended the right to vote to men over the age of 21 and some women.
Throughout June and July a series of events took place in Parliament to commemorate this historic piece of legislation and celebrate equality, including EqualiTeas tea parties.
Historically, tea parties helped to facilitate the work of suffrage organisations by providing an opportunity for women to meet without any men present. These meetings were crucial elements of the fight for women’s suffrage and it was over these tea parties that women increased awareness of their campaign, discussed tactics and raised money.
To highlight the important role tea parties played in the campaign for women’s suffrage, people across the country were encouraged to host an EqualiTeas event and debate, share, and celebrate what equality means to them over a cup of tea.
“It was a great pleasure to join with Victoria and host an EqualiTeas event for our staff and colleagues in Westminster to commemorate the centenary of the first women getting the right to vote,” Mr Huddleston said.
“Celebrating anniversaries such as this give us a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come and there is sadly much more to do when it comes to equality in the UK but this event was a great opportunity to come together and discuss our own ideas for how we can make our society a more equal one.”
