Votes for Women Centenary

2018 marks 100 years since Parliament passed a law which allowed some women, and all men, to vote for the first time: the 1918 Representation of the People Act. Throughout the year, many organisations are celebrating this important milestone in the UK’s democratic history. On February 6th 2018, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act, the Fawcett Society will launch #OurTimeNow, a campaign which will break down the barriers to gender equality throughout 2018 and beyond.

What is happening at Parliament?

A series of exhibitions and events are taking place to engage the public with the UK Parliament and the struggle for the vote. These events will take place between February-December 2018.

You can join the celebrations throughout 2018 in many different ways:

Visit Parliament - experience our landmark Voice and Vote exhibition and take part in our Vote 100 Talks and Tours programme.

Sign up for EqualiTeas - get together with friends and celebrate your hard-won democratic rights over a cup of tea and a slice of cake! From 18th June - 2nd July 2018

Take part in UK Parliament Week 2018 - our annual festival empowers people across the UK to understand and engage with parliamentary democracy.

Watch Your Story, Our History films - learn about the positive impact that parliamentary democracy has had on the lives of British women.

Beyond the Ballot: Women’s Rights and Suffrage from 1866 to Today: take an online course to explore the campaign for women’s right to vote and its impact on women’s rights and equality to the present day.

Fawcett Society to launch #OurTimeNow campaign

On February 6th 1918, Millicent Fawcett, the Pankhursts and other suffrage campaigners won a hard-fought victory. They secured the first votes for some women, a moment that paved the way for universal suffrage ten years later. Their triumph in the face of many challenges inspires us to know that we can succeed too. Anything is possible.

100 years on, women everywhere have been calling #TimesUp on discrimination and are taking their fight forward. We are going to make 2018 a year of victories for girls and women everywhere. It's #OurTimeNow.

On February 6th, the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act, the Fawcett Society will launch #OurTimeNow, a campaign which will break down the barriers to gender equality throughout 2018 and beyond. To kick it off it asks everyone to tweet or post a picture of their watch or a clock face on February 6th and use the hashtag #OurTimeNow to pledge to fight for our rights as Millicent once did.

Campaigners including Helen Pankhurst, Jess Phillips, Maria Miller, Nimco Ali and many more have already pledged to support #OurTimeNow. The Fawcett Society hopes to make 2018 as symbolically momentous as 1918.