Conciliation Bills
Encyclopedia
Three Conciliation bills were put before the House of Commons, one each year in 1910, 1911 and in 1912 which would extend the right of women to vote in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
to around 1,000,000 wealthy, property-owning women.
While the Liberal government of H. H. Asquith
supported this, a number of backbenchers, both Conservatives and Liberals, did not support the bill for fear that it would damage their parties’ success in general election
s. Some pro-suffrage groups rejected the Bills because they gave the vote to only some women; some Members of Parliament rejected them because they gave some women the right to vote (these people did not want any women to receive this right). Liberals also opposed the Bill because they believed that the 1,000,000 who would be allowed to vote would be Conservative voters so it would not be in the Liberals' interests to pass the Bill.
(WSPU) suspended its campaign of violence but after the failure of the First Conciliation Bill suffragettes marched on the Commons in an event known as Black Friday
. Over 100 WSPU campaigners were arrested, which only caused the WSPU to step up its campaigning once more.
believed that time given over debating votes for women would be used to prevent Irish home rule; however the Women's Social and Political Union
blamed Asquith as the eight members of the Government who had voted against the Bill would have overturned the result had they voted the other way.
The Franchise Bill, for universal manhood suffrage, was introduced in 1912 but was strongly criticised, and made no progress.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
to around 1,000,000 wealthy, property-owning women.
While the Liberal government of H. H. Asquith
H. H. Asquith
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC, KC served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916...
supported this, a number of backbenchers, both Conservatives and Liberals, did not support the bill for fear that it would damage their parties’ success in general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
s. Some pro-suffrage groups rejected the Bills because they gave the vote to only some women; some Members of Parliament rejected them because they gave some women the right to vote (these people did not want any women to receive this right). Liberals also opposed the Bill because they believed that the 1,000,000 who would be allowed to vote would be Conservative voters so it would not be in the Liberals' interests to pass the Bill.
Conciliation Bill 1910
The Parliamentary Franchise (Women) Bill was given a Second Reading by the large majority of 299 to 190 on 12 July 1910. It was then sent for consideration in a Committee of the Whole House, but before this could happen (the Government refused to use any of its time for the purpose) Parliament was dissolved for a general election and all Bills not passed into law were dropped. As the Bill was put before parliament the Women's Social and Political UnionWomen's Social and Political Union
The Women's Social and Political Union was the leading militant organisation campaigning for Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom...
(WSPU) suspended its campaign of violence but after the failure of the First Conciliation Bill suffragettes marched on the Commons in an event known as Black Friday
Black Friday (1910)
Black Friday was a women's suffrage event in the United Kingdom on 18 November 1910.Although the Conciliation Bill, which would extend the right of women to vote in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to around 1,000,000 wealthy, property-owning women, got to its second reading, British...
. Over 100 WSPU campaigners were arrested, which only caused the WSPU to step up its campaigning once more.
Conciliation Bill 1911
The Women's Enfranchisement Bill was introduced into the new Parliament on 9 February 1911, with 5 May set as the day for its Second Reading debate. The Bill secured a Second Reading by 255 to 88, but made no further progress. On 7 November 1911, Asquith changed his position relating to women’s suffrage, announcing that the Government would introduce in the next session a Bill to provide universal male suffrage, which would be made capable of amendment by Parliament to give some women the vote, should Parliament support it.Conciliation Bill 1912
The Parliamentary Franchise (Women) Bill was again introduced on 19 February 1912 and set down for Second Reading on 22 March, although the debate was later delayed to 28 March. However this time the Bill was defeated by 208 to 222. The reason for the defeat was that the Irish Parliamentary PartyIrish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
believed that time given over debating votes for women would be used to prevent Irish home rule; however the Women's Social and Political Union
Women's Social and Political Union
The Women's Social and Political Union was the leading militant organisation campaigning for Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom...
blamed Asquith as the eight members of the Government who had voted against the Bill would have overturned the result had they voted the other way.
The Franchise Bill, for universal manhood suffrage, was introduced in 1912 but was strongly criticised, and made no progress.