05-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Newport seamstresses help female MPs celebrate suffrage
This event was a tribute to the women's suffrage movement, with each MP wearing a handcrafted suffragette sash, created by Newport seamstresses.
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.
