British PM marks historic women’s vote
London: Prime Minister Theresa May led tributes Tuesday to the “heroic” women who won the right to vote in Britain 100 years ago, but warned that female politicians today risked being silenced by online harassment.
In the northwestern English city of Manchester, the birthplace of Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, May hailed the centenary of “a huge and irreversible step towards creating a truly universal democracy”.
She noted major advances in the rights of women and other minorities since 1918, but warned of a new tone of “bitterness and agression” in public debate.
“Women in the 19th century had to contend with open hostility and abuse to win their right to vote,” said May, Britain’s second female prime minister.
“In the 21st century it cannot be acceptable for any women — or any person — to have to face threats and intimidation simply because she or he has dared to express a political opinion.”
She added: “We now face the prospect of our country’s public debate becoming oppressively hostile and participation in it a risk which many are unprepared to run.”
She called for greater action by social media companies to clamp down on abuse, and announced a review of the law relating to online offensive communications. During a debate in the House of Commons in London, interior minister Amber Rudd also highlighted how many female MPs face “vile sexist abuse”. “I bear it, like other women in this chamber do, because I know that female voices matter in politics and in life,” she said.