Picture No 10222633
Date May 1908
Description Mr Churchill rung down by a Suffragette's bell 1908
Details

Winston Churchill addressing a lunchtime meeting of workmen at a large factory in Dundee, Scotland, as Liberal candidate in the Dundee by-election. Miss Dorothy Molony (aka Mary or Dolly Maloney or Moloney), an Irish suffragist and member of the Women's Freedom League, arrived in a carriage and drowned the speaker's voice by repeatedly ringing a a handbell, stating that he should not be allowed to speak until he had apologised for some recent remarks he had made about women politicians. Churchill struggled to be heard, but eventually had to abandon his speech, saying: 'If she thinks that is a reasonable argument she may use it. I don't care. I bid you good afternoon.' WSPU members Emmeline Pankhurst, Christabel Pankhurst and Mary Gawthorpe were also active during the campaign, holding meetings in the town. Churchill won the seat with a comfortable majority, and represented Dundee until 1922.
Source

Page photograph by The Graphic Photo Union in 'The Illustrated London News', 9 May 1908, page 665
Credit Line

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans