100 years ago today a general election was held that represented a shift in British politics - women could be elected as MPs for the first time. It was also the first general election where some women and all men over 21 could vote. Equal voting rights wouldn't be won until 1928
How many female MPs stood for election in December 1918?
Earlier this morning we asked you how many female MPs stood for election in 1918? The answer is 17.
Only one of the 707 Members elected in 1918 was a woman, compared to 208 out of 650 MPs in 2017. Her name was Constance Markievicz. #Vote100
The first woman to be elected to the @HouseofCommons was Constance Markievicz. But she did not take her seat. One year later Nancy Astor became the first woman to take her seat in Parliament. This @BritishPathe footage shows her on polling day in 1919.
Did women turn out to vote in 1918?
Below is a report from @UKParlArchives showing how women were voting in different regions on the day, the second image is the election card of Mrs Bettie Le Cras, she was the first woman to vote at her polling station. #Vote100
This week MPs placed letters in a time capsule about their hopes for an equal society in the future. This will be opened in 2028, to mark 100 years since equal voting rights for men and women were finally achieved. #Vote100
© UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.