The campaigns of the suffragists and suffragettes led to a major breakthrough in 1918. That year, Parliament passed the Representation of the People Act, giving the vote to women over the age of 30 who met certain property qualifications. It was a historic moment—but not full equality.

It took another ten years before the dream of equal suffrage was fully realised. In 1928, the Equal Franchise Act was passed. This gave the vote to all women over 21, on the same terms as men.