2. Political advantagePolitical advantage
For years the Liberals had
rejected giving women the vote.
Various Conciliation Bills had
been proposed which would
have extended the right to vote
to older, richer women.
However the Liberal
governments had opposed even
these steps.

3. Political advantagePolitical advantage
The Liberals had also actively
opposed women’s campaign
groups.
They passed laws such as the Cat
and Mouse Act which aimed to
stop Suffragette protests.
However eventually in 1918 the
Liberal-led government gave some
women the vote.

4. Political advantagePolitical advantage
The Labour Party wanted more
working class people to gain the
vote. This included women so they
worked with the Suffragists to
campaign for ‘votes for all’.
The Liberals may also have feared
losing votes to the Labour Party,
especially remembering the 1867
‘dishing of the Whigs’.

5. Political advantagePolitical advantage
Votes for women became more
likely simply because David Lloyd
George became Prime Minister in
1916, and as a New Liberal he
was more open to the idea.
There were also numerous other
social reforms happening at the
times (pensions, etc) so women
voting was just an extension of this
change.

6. Political advantagePolitical advantage
Votes for women became more
likely simply because David Lloyd
George became Prime Minister in
1916, and as a New Liberal he
was more open to the idea.
There were also numerous other
social reforms happening at the
times (pensions, etc) so women
voting was just an extension of this
change.