The Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) was founded on 10 October 1903 at Emmeline Pankhurst’s home in Manchester. A small group of women met at 62 Nelson Street and agreed to establish an organisation to campaign for women’s parliamentary vote.

The decision followed years of unsuccessful campaigning. The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, established in 1897 and led by Millicent Fawcett, used constitutional methods, including petitions and lobbying politicians. Pankhurst believed more direct action was needed.

The WSPU was independent of political parties and admitted women only. Its motto was ‘Deeds not words’. Members initially organised meetings, demonstrations and protests. In October 1905, Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney challenged Liberal politicians at Manchester’s Free Trade Hall. Police arrested both after they refused to pay fines.

The arrests attracted publicity. WSPU members became known as suffragettes, and imprisonment became an important part of their campaign.

The organisation adopted increasingly confrontational methods. Members disrupted political meetings, attempted to enter Parliament and damaged property. Some carried out arson attacks. These methods divided women’s suffrage supporters.

From 1909, imprisoned suffragettes used hunger strikes to protest. Prison authorities responded with force-feeding. In 1913, the government introduced legislation that allowed prisoners weakened by hunger strikes to be temporarily released and then returned to prison after recovering.

The WSPU was one part of a wider movement. The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies continued its constitutional campaign; however, disagreements over tactics and leadership led some women to leave the WSPU.

After Britain entered the First World War in 1914, the WSPU suspended its militant campaign. The organisation disbanded in 1918.

That year, the Representation of the People Act gave women aged over 30 who met certain property qualifications the right to vote in Parliament. In 1928, women gained equal parliamentary voting rights with men when the voting age was reduced to 21.