Men & Women Come to the House of Commons

Printed handbill or flyer urging 'men and women' to come to the House of Commons on 30th June 1908 in support of 'Votes for Women.' Organised by the Women's Social and Political Union the deputation to Parliament was planned to take place after the Women's Parliament meeting at Caxton Hall. In the event the Police locked most of the suffragettes in Caxton Hall as leading Suffagettes, including Emmeline Pankhurst set out for the House of Commons to demand a meeting with Prime Minister Asquith. As Asquith refused to receive the deputation a large crowd of up to 100,000 encouraged by the issuing of flyers such as this example, gathered outside Parliament Square. The ensuing confrontation with the 1700 policemen resulted in many arrests and the subsequent imprisonment of 25 women including Mary Leigh and Edith New who became the first Suffragettes to throw stones when they broke windows of No 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister's official residence.