Newport seamstresses help female MPs celebrate suffrage
The occasion marked the 97th anniversary of the Equal Franchise Act 1928, the legislation that granted women the right to vote on equal terms with men.
The sashes, personalised with each MP's rank in the historical list of women elected to the UK Parliament, were designed in the iconic suffragette colours: purple, white, and green.
Welsh seamstresses based at Re:Make, Newport with Deputy PM Angela Rayner MP, Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, and Ruth Jones, MP for Newport West and Islwyn. (Image: Supplied) Centenary Action, a cross-party coalition, initiated the event to acknowledge the progress made since 1928 and to continue the campaign for a gender-equal Parliament by 2028.
The organisation is led by Helen Pankhurst CBE, a prominent women's rights activist and a descendant of suffragette leaders Emmeline and Sylvia Pankhurst.
Helen Pankhurst said: "This is the most women MPs we've ever had — a milestone worth recognising.
"But celebration alone isn't enough.
"We need real, sustained action to ensure we reach a truly gender-equal Parliament by 2028, when we mark the centenary of equal franchise."
The seamstresses who crafted these sashes travelled from Wales to London to witness the culmination of their hard work.
Their contribution was a reminder of the deep-rooted connection between Wales and the wider fight for women's rights in the UK.
Lucy from Re:Make chats with one of the MPs receiving their sash. (Image: Supplied) The event was not just a commemoration of a significant milestone in British democratic history but also a celebration of the continued presence and influence of women in politics.
Each sash represented a step forward on the journey towards gender equality in Parliament.
Currently, there are 264 women MPs, out of a total of 694, indicating that there is still work to be done to achieve a truly gender-representative Parliament.
Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. Both are wearing sashes with their own elected number on them. (Image: Supplied) Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, said: "I was so proud today to see these sashes, which have been crafted by a group of incredibly skilled women at Re:Make in Newport East.
"Seeing so many women MPs wearing their sashes together today was quite the moment.
"It is a testament to how far we've come since the Representation of the People Act of 1928, which gave women over the age of 21 the right to vote.
"The number 264 represents around 40 per cent of the total Members of Parliament.
"This shows there is still much work to do to achieve a truly representative Parliament in which 50 per cent of MPs are women.
"Thanks to the work of groups like Centenary Action, that goal will one day be realised."
She also thanked Centenary Action for their efforts and the team at Re:Make for their dedication in crafting the sashes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
44 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Iran's Supreme Leader appears in public for first time since start of war
The absence of Mr Khamenei during the war had suggested heavy security for the Iranian leader, who has final say on all state matters. There was no immediate report on any public statement made. Iran has acknowledged the deaths of more than 900 people in the war, as well as thousands of injured. It also has confirmed serious damage to its nuclear facilities, and has denied access to the sites for inspectors with the UN nuclear watchdog. Mr Khamenei hosted a remembrance of the seventh century martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson, Hussein, at a mosque next to his office and residence in the capital, Tehran. Iranian officials such as the Parliament speaker were present, and such events are always held under heavy security. Shiites represent over 10% of the world's 1.8 billion Muslims, and they view Hussein as the rightful successor to Mohammed. Hussein's death in battle at the hands of Sunnis at Karbala, south of Baghdad, created a rift in Islam and continues to play a key role in shaping Shiite identity. In predominantly Shiite Iran, red flags represented Hussein's blood and black funeral tents and clothes represented mourning. Processions of chest-beating and self-flagellating men demonstrated fervour. Some sprayed water over the mourners in the intense heat. Israel relentlessly attacked Iran beginning on June 13, targeting its nuclear sites, defence systems, high-ranking military officials and atomic scientists. In retaliation, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted, but those that got through caused damage in many areas and killed 28 people.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Conservatives will look to amend Government welfare Bill
Kemi Badenoch will pledge that the Tories are 'now the only party committed to serious welfare reform' after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer shelved plans to restrict eligibility for Pip in the face of a backbench revolt this week. Ministers have warned there will be costs to their backtracking on the plans, as Downing Street and the Treasury will be looking to cover the spending shortfall left by the decision. The Tories will look to lay amendments to the legislation – set to be renamed the Universal Credit Bill – and party leader Mrs Badenoch is due to deliver a speech on welfare on Thursday. Among the amendments the Conservatives will propose is a requirement for eligibility for Pip to be determined by a face-to-face meeting, rather than virtually. As part of the Government's reforms, the Department for Work and Pensions has proposed a new 'severe conditions criteria' for universal credit. Claimants in this category will be entitled to a higher rate of the benefit, and will not be routinely reassessed to receive money. Another of the Conservatives' amendments would prevent somebody from being classed as having a severe condition for the purpose of universal credit only by having anxiety, mild depression, or ADHD. The third amendment would block the increase in universal credit and restrict Pip for some people who are not British citizens. In her welfare speech, Mrs Badenoch is expected to say that the Conservatives are 'the only party that is prepared to take the tough decisions to get spending under control'. 'I have no doubt that, emboldened by their success in forcing Starmer to U-turn last week, Labour's backbench MPs will now be eyeing up more concessions,' she will say. The original welfare proposals had been part of a package that ministers expected would save up to £5 billion a year, and economists are now warning that tax rises are likely to plug the gap left by the concessions to rebels. On Friday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves admitted that the fallout over the Government's welfare Bill had been 'damaging' and did not rule out tax rises in the autumn budget. It came after images of the Chancellor crying during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday spooked the financial markets and led to questions about her future, although a spokesman said she was upset by a personal matter. In an interview with The Guardian, Ms Reeves said it would be 'irresponsible' to rule out the idea of tax rises and warned 'there are costs to what happened' with the welfare Bill. The Sunday Times reported that the two-child benefit cap could be unlikely to be scrapped – as many Labour backbenchers want – as ministers look to balance the finances.
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
New map shows the areas of Wales most vulnerable to Government DWP benefit reforms
New map shows the areas of Wales most vulnerable to Government DWP benefit reforms Some parts of Wales have twice as many claimants of as average Many people in Blaenau Gwent cite psychiatric disorders as their reason for claiming. Picture shows Ebbw Vale (Image: South Wales Echo ) The areas of Wales with the highest number of people who receive Personal Independent Payments (PIP) are revealed in a new map which shows the areas most vulnerable to any government reform . One part of Wales has more than twice the rate seen across England and Wales. PIP is a a benefit designed to assist with additional costs resulting from long-term disability or ill-health which was established in 2013. Recipients can receive £73.90 a week to help with their living costs at the standard rate and an additional £29.20 if they qualify for mobility help. At the enhanced rate for more severe disabilities, they qualify for £110.40 daily living support and £77.05 in mobility help - totalling £187.45. The UK government had planned to cut the number of people who would qualify for the benefit by making it more difficult to qualify under the points-based system by which people's disability is assessed. However Keir Starmer was forced to back down amid the face of a rebellion by his own MPs. The government was ultimately able to pass its benefits bill by a margin of 75 votes, but only after making last-minute concessions to Labour rebels that left it unrecognisable. It has now promised not alter PIP rules until it had time to consider a review's findings. Deemed a "moral imperative" by the Prime Minister, the reforms were aimed at encouraging capable people to return to work, while reducing the welfare bill by £5bn and boosting employment rates. As of April 2025, data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed that more than 3.7 million people are beneficiaries of PIP across England and Wales, some 8.3% of the population. Article continues below But the distribution is uneven, with certain areas showing far higher concentrations of claimants than others. Wales has a higher proportion of claimants to England with 11.7% of people here receiving the benefit. Wales has some of the highest rates in the UK with four Welsh constituencies in the top ten in England and Wales. In Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, 17.4% of working age adults claim PIP. This is followed by Aberafan Maesteg on 17.4%, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare at 15.9% and Rhondda and Ogmore at 15.7%. Only two areas of England have higher rates of PIP claimants than Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, Liverpool Walton on 18.6% and Easington in the north east of England on 17.8%. The ten constituencies with the highest rate of PIP claimants in England and Wales Liverpool Walton, north west England - 18.6% Easington, north east England - 17.8% Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, Wales - 17.4% Aberafan Maesteg, Wales - 16.9% Knowsley, north west England - 16.8% Blackpool South, north west England - 16.5% Birkenhead, north west England - 16.5% Bootle, north west England - 16.3% Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare, Wales - 15.9% Rhondda and Ogmore, Wales - 15.7% The percentage of PIP claimants in Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney is more than twice the average rate in England and Wales. In Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, 34.4% of claimants cite mental health or psychiatric disorders as their reason for claiming. Another 24.5% do so due to general musculoskeletal disease, with an additional 14.4% for regional musculoskeletal disease, 10% for neurological disease, and 4.4% for respiratory disease. According to the most recent data from the Office for National Statistics released in May 2024, the employment rate in Blaenau Gwent was 69.4% in the year ending in December 2023. This is a decrease compared with the year ending December 2022 when the local rate was 73.8%. Across Wales in the year ending December 2023, 74.1% of people aged 16 to 64 years were employed. This was higher compared with the previous year, when 73.3% of people were employed. During the year ending in December 2023, the unemployment rate was 4.1% - an increase compared with the year ending December 2022 when the unemployment rate was 2.9%. However the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits was 4.3% in the year leading to March 2023 was 4.3%. This figure remained the same in the following year leading to March 2024. Around 11,500 people or 26.4% of the population aged 16 to 64 years in Blaenau Gwent were "economically inactive" in the year ending December 2023. This compares with around 10,700 people (24.7%) in the year ending December 2022. People are classed as "economically inactive" if they are not in employment but don't meet the criteria for being "unemployed". This means they have not been seeking work within the previous four weeks or were unable to start work within the next two weeks. Article continues below Common reasons include being retired, looking after the home or family or being temporarily or long-term sick and disabled. Economic inactivity in Blaenau Gwent is higher than across Wales and Great Britain. Across Wales, 23.0% of people aged 16 to 64 years were economically inactive during the year ending December 2023, a decrease compared with the year ending December 2022 when 24.4% were economically inactive.
