York event to mark 100 years of women's vote in General Elections

Organisers from York Women’s Forum say ‘York women count!’, taking place between noon and 2pm in St Helen’s Square, will be an "afternoon of celebration, conversation and revolution" with live female performances, a street stall, a ‘use your vote’ ballot box and a York Women’s survey.

The event will be attended by York’s first female MP, York Central’s Rachael Maskell, and the Sheriff of York, Verna Campbell.

“It is sure to be an exciting and lively event,” said a spokeswoman. “It is being funded by the Government Equalities Office Women’s Vote Centenary Grant Scheme.”

She said women could vote for the first time in the election of December 14, 1918, but only 40 per cent were eligible - almost entirely white, middle-class women.

She said the the fight for political equality continued as the 32 million women in the UK did not have equal representation.

“Men continue to outnumber women by more than 2:1 in the House of Commons and 3:1 in the House of Lords,” she said.

“At the last election only 12 extra women were elected. At this rate it will take over 50 years for full gender equality in Parliament - the most important decision-making institution in our country.”

She said that in partnership with York Women’s Forum and York Human Rights City Network, a group of postgraduate students at the University of York would be conducting a ‘York Women Count survey’ to identify the priorities of women residing in York.

The survey is open to individuals of any gender who are 18+ and currently live in York. The closing date for online submissions is Sunday, December 16, and any paper copies - available from the Centre for Applied Human Rights at 6 Innovation Close, Heslington, York YO10 5ZF - have to be returned by December 20.

She said York Women’s Forum was non-party political and was formed earlier this year, and offered a voice for women and forum for networking and campaigning.