The Women in the Room

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In February 1900, a group of men from trade unions, socialists, Fabians, and Marxists convened in London to establish an organization aimed at electing working-class men to Parliament. This led to the formation of the Labour Representation Committee, which became the Labour Party six years later after 29 candidates were elected. While no women participated in that initial meeting, Isabella Ford, a notable socialist and trade unionist, observed from the public gallery at the request of her friend, Millicent Fawcett, President of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. Isabella, who had long been involved in the suffrage movement, would later become the first woman to speak at a Labour Party conference, advocating for women's votes. Despite women being present in Labour's early years, their contributions were often overlooked. They came from diverse backgrounds and played vital roles as organizers, campaigners, and leaders, challenging the prevailing interests of their time. Many, including Margaret Bondfield, Britain's first woman cabinet minister, have been largely forgotten. This narrative highlights the significant yet underrecognized impact women had on the Labour Party's formation and its ability to engage female voters post-World War I, urging a rediscovery of these remarkable figures.