The Women in the Room: Labour's Forgotten History

In February 1900, a group of men gathered in London to establish an organization capable of getting working-class men elected to Parliament. Among them was Isabella Ford, an active socialist and trade unionist who would become the first woman to speak at a Labour Party conference. Women made real and substantial contributions to Labours earliest years and had a significant impact on the Partys ability to attract and maintain womens votes after World War I, but they have been forgotten by the Labour movement. This book tells their story.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 19 May 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In February 1900, a group of diverse individuals, including trade unionists, socialists, Fabians, and Marxists, convened in London with the aim of establishing an organization capable of securing the election of working-class men to Parliament. This endeavor led to the formation of the Labour Representation Committee, which, six years later, after the successful election of 29 of its candidates to the House of Commons, underwent a name change to the Labour Party. Interestingly, women were not actively involved in the initial meeting, although several of them observed from the public gallery. Among these spectators was Isabella Ford, an active socialist and trade unionist who would have been well-known to the majority of the men present. She had been invited to attend by her friend Millicent Fawcett, with the expectation that she would provide a report on the proceedings. A few years later, Ford would achieve a significant milestone by becoming the first woman to deliver a speech at a Labour Party conference. During her address, she moved a resolution advocating for women's voting rights, although, at the time of the Party's inception in 1900, she and every other woman present in the hall remained silent. Throughout Labour's history, women have been present in the room, although their contributions may not always have been documented or acknowledged. These women hailed from diverse backgrounds and engaged in various roles, including organizers, campaigners, negotiators, polemicists, public speakers, and leaders. They tirelessly fought against the vested interests of their time, sometimes achieving success. However, the vast majority of these women have been overlooked by the Labour movement that they played a crucial role in founding. Even prominent figures such as Margaret Bondfield, who became Britain's first woman cabinet minister, often receive minimal mention. It is important to recognize that women made substantial and meaningful contributions to Labour's early years and had a significant impact on the Party's ability to attract and retain women's votes after World War I. In addition to Margaret and Isabella, many other women played significant roles in shaping the Party's early development. These women include Ellen Wilkinson, who served as the first female MP and was instrumental in establishing the National Health Service; Barbara Castle, who became the first female cabinet minister and advocated for women's rights and equality; and Emily Wilding Davison, who tragically lost her life in a protest for women's suffrage. Their contributions and achievements should be celebrated and recognized as an integral part of Labour's history.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350340824