Doughty Street Women Apply For A Red Plaque To Honour Revolutionary Barmaids Who Defeated Churchill
This morning barristers from Doughty Street Chambers announced an application they have made for a Red Plaque (to mark “events of importance to the social history of the city”) in the centre of the city of Manchester, to honour the achievements of the Barmaids Political Defence League.
In 1908 the Licencing Bill was making its way through the Houses of Parliament. The bill, supported by a number of prominent MPs (who were, at that time, all men) effectively gave the power to Magistrates to ban women from working in public houses. The bill was welcomed by many religious organisations and by a group of MPs who published their opposition to women working on licensed premises, claiming that the lives of barmaids often ended in “drunkenness, immorality, misery and frequently suicide”.
Eva Gore-Booth, the suffragist, social worker, activist and experienced trade unionist, set up the Barmaids’ Political Defence League. She headed a deputation of barmaids to lobby the home secretary, protesting against a Bill that had the potential to throw thousands of women out of work. The furore over the Bill grew, attracting controversy for many political figures – including one Winston Churchill, a rising star, who publically supported the bill.
Things reached a head when Churchill was standing for re-election in his constituency of Manchester North West, where it was expected that he would stroll to victory: he had secured a majority of 62% over his opponent in his election two years earlier.
Two days before the election, Churchill addressed the public at the Coal Exchange in Manchester. Thousands turned out to hear him speak. Meanwhile, Eva Gore-Booth organised a coach, drawn by four white horses, to be driven around Manchester, with her sister, Constance Markievicz, at the whip.
The women stopped periodically and stood on the roof of the carriage, making rousing speeches about the rights of women. Gore-Booth urged voters to vote against Churchill, to prove to the Government that “it was not a minor matter to take away the livelihood of 100,000 respectable, hard-working women”. At one stage, while addressing the crowd, Markievicz was heckled by a man who asked “can you cook a dinner?” “Certainly”, replied Markievicz, “can you drive a coach-and-four?”
The following day, the Barmaids Political Defence League organised their own mass meeting in the Coal Exchange in advance of the election. Markievicz appealed to voters to support the Conservative candidate, William Joynson-Hicks, saying
“I have come over from Ireland to help because I am a woman. I am not a Conservative – I am a Home Ruler – but I have come over here to ask everyone to vote for Mr. Joynson-Hicks because he, of the three candidates who are standing, is the only one who takes a straight and decent view of the barmaid’s question”.
Despite snow and bitter wind, turnout on election day was overwhelming, with 10,691 of 11,914 registered voters casting their votes. At 9:30 on the evening of 24th April 1908, the result was announced: Churchill has lost, by a margin of 529 votes.
Shortly thereafter, the Licensing Bill was defeated after 294 out of 355 MPs rejected the bill. During the debate, Wilfrid Ashley MP called into question whether “a body of men elected entirely by men had any moral right to prohibit the employment of women in a certain trade purely on sentimental grounds”.
The barmaids had won.
A crowdfunding page has been set up to support the costs associated with the project. Those who wish to support the project can donate funds here.
Harriet Johnson, barrister at Doughty Street Chambers in Manchester, submitted the application on International Women’s Day. She said
"The story of the Barmaids Political Defence League is one that deserves telling; and, better yet, memorialising. It is a story of Manchester; of resilience in the face of oppression; of women banding together to support and protect other women; and of the incredible difference that a single campaign can make. This city is full of memorials to the achievements of men: on International Women’s Day, we think it’s fitting that we launch our campaign to memorialise some incredible Manchester women."
The application is supported by Sarah Judge, Assistant Executive Member and Lead Member for Women at Manchester City Council.
The project will be officially launched by Harriet Johnson at Doughty Street Chambers’ annual celebration of International Women’s Day, the Manchester strand of which is taking place at the Midland Hotel on 13th March 2018. As part of its other activities to celebrate International Women’s Day, Doughty Street Chambers are highlighting women’s invisibility in London street names, with a social media project to rename the local streets after suffragettes who were based in the Doughty Street area. Doughty Street has also applied for a Blue Plaque to honour Helena Normanton, England’s first woman barrister.
Notes for editors:
The application for a Red Plaque was submitted on 8th March (International Women’s Day) by Harriet Johnson on behalf of Doughty Street Women. Doughty Street Women is a group of barristers within Doughty Street Chambers. More information can be found at www.doughtystreet.co.uk or at the hashtag on twitter, #DoughtyStWomen
Any enquiries regarding the Red Plaque application or Doughty Street Chambers’ International Women’s Day celebrations should be directed to Harriet Johnson at h.johnson@doughtystreet.co.uk or 0161 618 1066
