First statue of a woman in Parliament Square is ‘an inspiration’, says PM
THE FIRST statue of a woman in Parliament Square has been unveiled at a ceremony in Westminster.
Suffragist leader Millicent Fawcett has been immortalised in bronze and now stands 8ft 4in just outside Parliament.
Hers is the only female statue, standing alongside 11 historical male figures including Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. It was unveiled by her great-great niece, schoolgirls from Millbank Academy and other figures in the campaign.
Prime Minister Theresa May, speaking at the unveiling, said: “I would not be here today as Prime Minister, no female MPs would have taken their seats in Parliament, none of us would have had the rights and protections we now enjoy, were it not for one truly great woman, Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett.
“For generations to come, this statue will serve not just as a reminder of Dame Millicent’s extraordinary life and legacy, but as inspiration to all of us who wish to follow in her footsteps.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan was also among the guests. He said: “Today is an historic day. It is vital that we fix the imbalance and make sure more women are represented in our public spaces.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the move was a great step forward. “A lot more can be done,” he said.
The event was hosted by BBC presenter Mishal Husain and featured poet Theresa Lola, performances from the cast of Sylvia and the Suffragist Singers and an adaptation of Fawcett’s 1918 victory speech.
Caroline Criado Perez, the Brazilian-born activist and writer, started the campaign for a statue of a woman in Parliament Square in 2016.