The Women's Local Government Society was a British campaign group which aimed to get women into local government. Its initial focus was on county councils but its remit later covered other local government roles such as school boards.

History

The organisation emerged from a local electors association formed by Amelia Charles, Caroline Biggs, Mrs Evans and Lucy Wilson at the instigation of

Annie Leigh Browne Annie Leigh Browne (14 March 1851 – 8 March 1936) was a United Kingdom educationist and suffragist. She co-founded College Hall, London, and funded and worked to get women elected to local government. Life Browne was born in Bridgwater in 185 ...

. This group's ambition was to get women into church politics.Jane Martin, ‘Browne, Annie Leigh (1851–1936)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 200
accessed 14 Jan 2017
/ref> In November 1888 the Society for Promoting the Return of Women as County Councillors was formed by twelve women at Sarah Amos's house. The group included

Elizabeth Lidgett Elizabeth Sedman Lidgett (26 August 1843 – 8 April 1919) was a British Poor Law guardian and suffragist. Life Lidgett was born in Mile End in East London to John Lidgett, a shipowner, and Ann Lidgett (''née'' Hyett) on 26 August 1843. Her elde ...

and her sister Mary Bunting and it was led by

. It was deciding suitable women candidates for election. Lidgett was offered the opportunity of standing to be a London County Councillor in 1889 but she refused.

provided early funding and she, Eva McLaren, the Marchioness of Aberdeen, Louisa Temple Mallett and

Newnham College Newnham College is a women's constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1871 by a group organising Lectures for Ladies, members of which included philosopher Henry Sidgwick and suffragist campaigner Millice ...

founder Millicent Garret Fawcett were key members. In 1893 it changed its name to the Women's Local Government Society, reflecting the members wish to encourage women to be involved in every branch of politics and not exclusively in county councils. The aim of this society was to get women elected to local government. An early victory was the election of two women,

Jane Cobden Emma Jane Catherine Cobden (28 April 1851 – 7 July 1947), known as Jane Cobden, was a British Liberal politician who was active in many radical causes. A daughter of the Victorian reformer and statesman Richard Cobden, she was an earl ...

and Lady

Margaret Sandhurst Margaret Mansfield, Baroness Sandhurst (née Fellowes, ca. 1828 - 7 January 1892) was a noted suffragist who was one of the first women elected to a city council in the United Kingdom. She was also a prominent spiritualist. Personal life Sandhur ...

, to the

London County Council London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London throughout its existence from 1889 to 1965, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today kno ...

. This was possible because of the wording of the

Local Government Act 1888 Local may refer to: Geography and transportation * Local (train), a train serving local traffic demand * Local, Missouri, a community in the United States * Local government, a form of public administration, usually the lowest tier of administrat ...

which did not disqualify women candidates. A later court case determined that this was a mistake. Campaigns were unsuccessfully started to reverse the court's interpretation. However, in 1894 new legislation did allow women to stand for more minor roles. In 1894 Emma Maitland was elected to the London School Board to represent Chelsea and she took a special interest in the education offered to children who were blind or deaf.Jane Martin, ‘Maitland , Emma Knox (1844–1923)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 201
accessed 11 Jan 2017
/ref> School boards were abolished by the Education Act 1902, which replaced them with

local education authorities Local education authorities (LEAs) were local councils in England that are responsible for education within their jurisdiction. The term was used to identify which council (district or county) is locally responsible for education in a system wit ...

; the Women's Local Government Society defended the rights of women to serve on the new authorities, arguing this was a step backwards as they had been contributing to school boards since the 1870s. The publication of the Qualification of Women (County and Borough Councils) Act in 1907 was a victory for the Women's Local Government Society.

References

{{reflist 1888 establishments in England Women's organisations based in the United Kingdom