What Was The Women’s Social And Political Union?

The Woman's Social and Political Union was founded in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst in Manchester. She was disaffected with Labour Party, which was seen as too lukewarm about female suffrage, and the NUWSS which was seen as too cautious. Policies were decided by an unelected central committee and members were informed of new policies at "home" sessions held each Monday afternoon at the headquarters in Lincoln's Inn Fields.

The leadership controlled the finances, publications and appointments. This made the leadership difficult to be opposed. They were therefore seen by some as dictatorial and tyrannical. Emmeline Pankhurst "wishes women to have votes but she will not allow them to have opinions". Some criticised it for being hypocritical.

Critics of WSPU were largely in sympathy with the more liberal wing of the movement, namely the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). But the WSPU was not always undemocratic – anyone could attend their meetings.

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