THIS PUBLICATION and the accompanying exhibition celebrates women who have engaged with and participated in Parliament. Women have always been present in Parliament to witness and participate in the day to day business of the House. They have been staff, public and business visitors, guests and families of parliamentarians, lobbyists and campaigners. Since 1918 they have been MPs and since 1958 Peers. They have helped run the organisation and have engaged with Parliamentary business – from watching debates to campaigning for election candidates, from submitting petitions to protesting, and much more. Most importantly they have, in relatively recent times, participated as MPs, Peers and voters.

This publication is not intended to be a comprehensive history or analysis, it concentrates only on the 19th and 20th centuries. But we hope, as well as providing information and highlighting how Parliament’s collections document this important history, it will encourage further research.