In 2018 I could not wait to take my two young daughters to see the ‘Vote 100’ exhibition at the Houses of Parliament marking the anniversary of the first time women, over the age of 30 and with certain property rights, were able to vote and stand for election. I was so moved to see my 6 year old ‘role play’, giving a speech in the House of Commons, pointing her finger with great authority and talking about fairness.
During a recent day trip to Manchester, I reminded my daughters again about their ‘herstory’ when the three of us had a photo taken next to the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in the centre of the city of her birth that recognises the contribution of Emmeline and her daughters to British politics.
While pointing fingers may be part and parcel of electoral politics, as my daughter had already learned, in recent weeks we will have seen politicians intentionally avoid pointing their fingers, instead bending fingers inwards so knuckles awkwardly protrude prodding the air, a practice first introduced by Tony Blair. In contrast, the statue in Manchester (and the statue of her in London), has Emmeline reach a hand out, suggesting either an invitation to join her hand-in-hand in the struggle or a command to go and do what was needed. After all the Women’s Social and Political Union was dedicated to ‘deeds, not words’.
The story of the gift the suffragettes gave to our nation (and the wider world) still empowers me as a woman today. Not only politically but professionally, personally and prophetically, in my faith.I still find it incredibly humbling to hear the stories about women who gave so much, in some cases their lives and I find it shocking that so many people don’t bother to vote today. Exercising our democratic right to vote is an act of respect not only for the suffragettes, but the millions (mainly men) who fought and died in two world wars, for our democratic freedom.
Following the General Election result, let us use our democratic freedom well, not just in how we vote at election time, but also how we continue to lobby and campaign around the matters which matter in our lives and faith, holding the government we have just elected to account. Let us also hold out hands of invitation to others to active collaboration to improve our lives and the lives of others.
In gratitude and debt to the prophets of old, and the prophets of more recent times, let us like them ‘act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God’. (Micah 6v8)