Honouring Sylvia and Emmeline Pankhurst on stage and in political action | Letter

Letter: As we approach the centenary of equal franchise in 2028, it is important to build on the rights that were won by the suffragettes, writes Helen Pankhurst

There was a proud Pankhurst in the audience in Leicester as Sylvia: A Musical Revolution began its national tour (Suffragette cities: blazing Sylvia Pankhurst musical hits the road – in pictures, 3 October). A blazing show indeed – and one that, 98 years after women gained the vote on equal terms with men, asks how much remains to be done, how to do it and how women can bridge their differences to advance their common cause.

As Sylvia Pankhurst’s granddaughter and Emmeline Pankhurst’s great-granddaughter, I honour both women. Their political paths diverged. I seek to reconcile their legacies through Centenary Action, the cross-party coalition that I lead, in a shared cause: dismantling the barriers to women’s participation, selection and retention in politics.

Also in the audience were Philippa, a relative of Emily Wilding Davison, and Peter, a relative of Alice Hawkins. The connections endure – and so does the activism. Remembering past sacrifices means protecting the rights won and building on those struggles as we approach the centenary of equal franchise in 2028.

As Emmeline said: “You must make women count as much as men.” And as Sylvia said: “Great is the work that remains to be accomplished.”
Helen Pankhurst
Convener, Centenary Action

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