The Victorian Southport ladies of leisure, tired of strolling along the Promenade - were beginning to dip their toes in the political waters as well as the sea.

March 1885 saw the first women's meeting in Birkdale, followed in August by the founding of the Southport Women's Liberal Association. An early pioneer was Kate Riley, one of the first women to hold elected office in local government anywhere in England - and a thorn in the side of the constituency association with her militant advocacy of the 'Women's Cause'.

 

 

Nowadays, our monthly meetings vary between political debates and talks given by a wide range of guest speakers. We are campaigners and helpers in elections, and our fundraising activities enable us to assist local female candidates. The high point of the year is our Salmon and strawberry supper held at the Scarisbrick Hotel every July. We always have a speaker, which have included our former MP Lord Ronnie Fearn, Baroness Maddock, a number of people from the Women's organisation at HQ and in 2002 we had our own MP, John Pugh.

In 1885, the ultimate aims of the Organisation included Votes for Women on the same terms as men, and equality of opportunity between the sexes. It sometimes seems that things don't change much, and, though things really have moved forward a great deal since 1885, there is still a long way to go. We are constantly endeavouring to elect more women councillors, and we help with campaigns that affect the women of today, such as John Pugh's campaign for a fair deal for women's pensions.